Tom Thibodeau
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Apparently, not even getting to the Eastern Conference Finals was good enough to extend Tom Thibodeau’s reign as the New York Knicks’ head coach to a sixth season.
On Tuesday, with rumors circulating about his future, the Knicks announced that they’ve “relieved” Thibodeau of his coaching duties, effective immediately. In other words, he’s been fired.
While reaching the ECF may have been enough for Thibs to meet expectations, he certainly didn’t exceed them. The Knicks clearly felt they had provided their veteran head coach with a strong enough roster to win it all, yet it’s the Indiana Pacers who are headed to the NBA Finals instead.
So, if coach Thibs wasn’t good enough, who will the Knicks turn to next? Let’s look at a quick list of potential replacements.
Frank Vogel
NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
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We haven’t heard from Frank Vogel since he was one-and-done with the Phoenix Suns in 2024. The Suns hoped the former NBA Finals winner could be perfect to help the Suns’ All-Star Big 3 come together with perfection. But after winning just 49 games and getting swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, the Suns ousted him for Mike Budenholzer, who did even worse.
Mike Brown
NBA: Indiana Pacers at Sacramento Kings
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It took 2.5 seasons for the Sacramento Kings to move on from Brown. His third year ended prematurely after the Kings got off to a 13-18 start. Yet, he has a better career win-rate than coach Thibs at 59.9%. Like Thibs, he’s never been able to win a championship, only reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. Perhaps this Knicks group would help him get over the top.
Mike Budenholzer
NBA: Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings
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Like Vogel, Budenholzer was a one-and-done with the Suns. Yet, he only won 36 games in his lone year in the desert. He’s probably nowhere near the top of the list considering he’s coming off a down year, yet he does have an NBA championship to his name.
Becky Hammon
WNBA: Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty
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Becky Hammon is one of the most interesting names on this list. The former Gregg Popovich coaching protege spent eight seasons learning from the future Hall of Famer, but she’s been leading the Las Vegas Aces since 2022, where she’s become a two-time WNBA champion. If she feels she doesn’t have anything else to prove in the WNBA, why not make the leap back to the NBA?
Taylor Jenkins
NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder
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One of the most accomplished coaches on this list, Taylor Jenkins was fired, seemingly out of nowhere after six strong seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. Yet, he hadn’t reached the playoffs in either of the past two years, largely due to the roster being gutted by injuries. Still just 40 years old, the Knicks could view him as an ideal long-term replacement.
Michael Malone
NBA: Indiana Pacers at Denver Nuggets
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Did you know Michael Malone is a Queens, New York native? He feels like the perfect fit to replace Thibodeau with the Knicks. He’s easily the most accomplished and proven head coach available, having spent the past ten seasons with the Nuggets.
Just two years removed from leading Denver to an NBA championship, Malone holds a career 56.4% win-rate. Malone has won 40 or more games each year dating back to 2017, so he’d at the very least help ensure the Knicks have a very high floor, and perhaps he can be the right man to help them reach their ceiling.
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