Milwaukee Bucks big man Bobby Portis has some advice for the New York Knicks.
This postseason, they made their first Conference Finals in 25 years before losing in six games to the Pacers. They then promptly fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, under whom the Knicks reached the playoffs in four of five seasons and won a series each of the past three. Since then, they have been rejected by a number of teams whose coaches they have requested permission to interview.
Things have reached the point that Portis thinks they should consider the unthinkable: crawling back to Thibs to see if he’s interested in a reunion.
Milwaukee Bucks, Bobby Portis, New York Knicks
Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after dunking the ball against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in New York. (Mike Stobe/Pool Photo via AP)
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So far, the Knicks have courted the following coaches in vain: the Hawks’ Quin Snyder, Minnesota’s Chris Finch, the Mavericks’ Jason Kidd, and the Rockets’ Ime Udoka. Now, they’ve finally lined up meetings with a pair of fired coaches – the Kings’ Mike Brown and the Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins.
Portis, who played for the Knicks in 2019-20, was asked what advice he would give them in an appearance on Fan Duel TV’s “Run It Back” show.
“Man, I’ma tell you like this. Sometimes when you break up with your girlfriend, sometimes you might go over and find you someone else, but, you know, you might want to go back to that girlfriend. So if I’m the Knicks, I’ll just call Thibs back and say I’m sorry. Get him some flowers, take him out to lunch, you know what I’m saying. Try to rekindle this relationship. We’ve been together for five years. We’ve had a lot of highs and lows together.”
Ever the goofball, Portis coaxed ample laughs out of the hosting cast, who were also perplexed by New York’s approach. For example, how does it look to Brown and Jenkins that the Knicks are only interested in them now that four other candidates have been marked “in a relationship”? Are they insulted, or just as desperate as the Knicks?
Tom Thibodeau, Milwaukee Bucks, Bobby Portis, New York Knicks
Mar 20, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts to a call during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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In all seriousness, the Knicks have burned that bridge. Thibodeau, who has 13 years of head coaching experience and a .579 lifetime winning percentage, has no reason to humor the franchise that dismissed him, justified or not, after he helped elevate them from a 21-45 record in 2019-20 to the ECF five years later.
Certainly there are flaws in his coaching style, such as his tendency to drive starters into the ground, and some players were reportedly unhappy with him. The Knicks dumped Thibs seeking the “perfect one,” but that move has backfired in embarrassing fashion.
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks
May 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts from the sideline against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter during game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
The Bucks have their own coaching drama surrounding Doc Rivers. While he seems to be safe for another season, plenty of fans loathe his lack of adjustments and reliance on veterans at the expense of developing younger players. Since firing Mike Budenholzer after the 2022-23 season, the Bucks have run something of a coaching carousel; Rivers is their third head coach in that period. Perhaps the desire for stability factored into retaining him.
Someday Milwaukee’s coaching prince may come. For now, Bucks fans can at least be glad they aren’t in the Knicks’ unenviable position, primed for a doormat hire down the road.
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