The New York Knicks have been rebuffed once again in their latest attempt to speak to a current NBA head coach, and their failed attempts are starting to provoke a reaction from many.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Knicks requested permission to interview Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder for their head coaching vacancy. The Hawks “firmly denied” that request.
Another one: The New York Knicks have requested permission to speak with Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, but were firmly denied, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025
This marks at least the fourth current head coach the Knicks have tried and failed to interview. That includes Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who is seen as the team’s most prominent target.
The attempt to interview Snyder opened the Knicks up to widespread criticism on social media. Many mocked the team for their focus on other NBA head coaches that are already employed elsewhere, while others felt that the requests make them look desperate and lacking a plan after firing Tom Thibodeau.
So they fired their coach with absolutely no plan for the next hit except pray some team lets theirs go?
— japtaa⚡️ (@DubsBetterr) June 11, 2025
The Knicks: pic.twitter.com/y2RZmTBCfv
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) June 11, 2025
The Knicks entire coaching search concept being “let’s see what teams don’t like their coach enough to just let him leave” is hilarious https://t.co/yqwNUkngXM
— Tucker (@SportingLogical) June 11, 2025
Knicks drunk DMing coaches “you up?” is hilarious https://t.co/lkshuvTVI2
— vic (@CountOnVic) June 11, 2025
Well…there are still 25 other current NBA head coaches for the Knicks to ask about before they run out of those options. So, that's something!
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 11, 2025
Even Kevin Garnett could not help but mock the Knicks for the series of rejections.
Everytime the Knicks asks for permission to interview 😭😭😭
This is crazy 🤦🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/yY5WqX07L8
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) June 11, 2025
One could certainly argue that the Knicks are casting a wide net in their coaching search and doing their due diligence. A series of high-profile rejections from rival teams would seem to undermine the argument that they had a clear plan after firing Thibodeau.
The Knicks had their reasons for seeking out a new head coach. However, there does not appear to be a leading candidate a week after they made that decision, and their search has mostly made headlines for who they cannot speak to than anything else.