The news that shocked many in the basketball world was that Tom Thibodeau had been fired, despite leading the New York Knicks to their most successful season since 1998/99. There's no denying that Thibodeau revived the Knicks.
New York Knicks / Schedule
The clearest proof of that is the simple fact that, before Thibodeau arrived, the Knicks had missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons. That was one of the darkest periods in franchise history. But everything changed when Thibodeau took over.
During his five seasons in charge, the Knicks made the playoffs four times—once falling in the first round, twice reaching the Conference Semifinals, and this season, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
It's safe to say he brought the franchise back to life. Thibs is known for his unique style—both in his tactical approach on the court and his intense training methods, as well as the way he collaborates with assistant coaches.
It's no secret that working with Thibodeau is one of the toughest experiences in the NBA—not because he's a bad coach (he's a brilliant one), but because he's a perfectionist who demands 24/7 dedication. From scouting to practice, Thibodeau is relentless. That intensity is part of what delivered results. It could be argued that his old-school mentality and work ethic were exactly what the Knicks needed to get back on track.
But just like his methods have many strengths, they also come with serious drawbacks. One of the biggest criticisms Thibs has faced throughout his career is how little he trusts his bench. His rotations are extremely short, and he leans heavily on his starters, often playing them for absurd minutes.
This was a major storyline throughout the 2024–25 season, especially with the minutes logged by players like Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and others. The stats speak volumes: Josh Hart led the entire league in average minutes per game this season with 37.6. Mikal Bridges wasn't far behind, ranking third with 37.0, and OG Anunoby came in fifth with 36.6 minutes per game. That means the Knicks had three players in the NBA's top five for average minutes played—an incredible and somewhat alarming stat.
2-pointers this season
New York Knicks
NBA
Knicks
Knicks
Credit AP - Scanpix
Naturally, this became a constant talking point in the media. Players were frequently asked about their minutes, putting them in the awkward position of potentially asking for rest publicly. That led to a bizarre quote from Mikal Bridges, who openly stated.
"You'll want that as a coach but also talked to him a little bit, knowing that we've got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don't need to play 48 (minutes), 47.
We've got a lot of good guys on this team who can take away minutes. Which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there, and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there," Bridges concluded.
It's rare to see players asking to play less. Usually, you hear the opposite—players publicly complain about a lack of playing time. This was one of the core issues with Thibodeau's approach. Of course, the Knicks' bench wasn't exactly elite, so his perspective was understandable to a degree.
But having three of your starters among the top five in minutes across the entire league is extreme. That raises questions not only about player fatigue but also about injury risk, playoff stamina, and overall game management.
However, that's not the only issue tied to Thibodeau and the Knicks, especially when looking at the bigger picture and the team's long-term ambitions. One of the most pressing concerns is roster construction.
The way the team has been built doesn't exactly align with Thibodeau's defensive-first philosophy. While the Knicks do have defensive potential, they are primarily an offensive-minded team, especially with a duo like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who are far from defensive stalwarts.
Thibodeau found himself coaching a roster that simply didn't match his style. He's known as one of the best defensive coaches in the league, yet his two cornerstone players at the point guard and center positions—positions crucial for any defense—are not defensively oriented. Towns, for instance, struggles mightily in pick-and-roll defense due to his slow lateral movement.
Opponents frequently target him in pick-and-roll actions to force switches and exploit his limitations. Brunson, despite being elite at drawing offensive fouls, has similar defensive flaws. He's often a liability in isolation due to his lack of lateral quickness.
Now, this mismatch doesn't necessarily spell doom. A great defensive coach can adapt to his roster and still find ways to win. And statistically, the Knicks were one of the top offensive teams in the league—proof that Thibs did adjust to some degree.
But the offense wasn't exactly smooth or dynamic. It leaned heavily on Brunson's isolations, with limited ball movement. That often sidelined other contributors and diminished Towns' impact.
Brunson
Brunson
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
The Knicks' offensive playbook certainly included some clever sets, but a large chunk of the offense ran through Brunson. That's somewhat understandable—he's one of the best offensive players in the NBA—but the lack of overall fluidity hurts the team's rhythm. In fact, at times, the Knicks looked better without Brunson on the floor. A shocking reality that's more of a reflection on Thibodeau's system than on Brunson himself.
And that's where the real issue lies. For all the good that Thibodeau did, reviving a struggling franchise, building a winning culture, and making the Knicks relevant again, it became clear that this particular group of players might need a different kind of coach. Someone with a different style, not just in terms of minute management, but also in how they use their best players. That's not something Thibs was willing—or maybe even capable—to change.
Another example that highlights a potential weakness in Thibodeau's coaching approach is the way Karl-Anthony Towns was used and the struggles he faced throughout the season. Anyone who watched the Knicks closely during the regular season and playoffs likely noticed a recurring pattern:
Towns
Towns
Credit AP - Scanpix
Towns was often guarded by wing players who were noticeably shorter than him. This wasn't random—it was a deliberate tactic designed to counter his dominance in pick-and-roll situations, particularly in pick-and-pop actions. By placing a wing on him and sticking to strict switch-heavy coverage, defenders were instructed not to leave him under any circumstances. Every screen was switched immediately to prevent any kind of advantage being created, especially ones that would allow Towns to pop out for a clean look from beyond the arc.
This strategy was especially evident in a regular-season game against Oklahoma City. Despite playing 42 minutes, Towns didn't attempt a single three-pointer. The reason? OKC employed exactly this tactic—having their wings stick to him tightly, preventing him from ever getting the space he needed to launch from deep. This kind of defensive scheme consistently disrupted the Knicks' offense throughout the season.
And that's exactly where criticism of Thibodeau becomes valid. He failed to find a reliable offensive solution to fully utilize what many consider the greatest shooting big man in basketball history. The inability to creatively counter a fairly predictable defensive tactic is something that held the team back, and it's one of the reasons why, despite all the results Thibodeau delivered, his dismissal is far less surprising than it might initially seem.
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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