Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks reacts after a play against the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 31, 2025. /VCG
Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks reacts after a play against the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 31, 2025. /VCG
Tom Thibodeau has been fired as the head coach of the New York Knicks, the team announced on Tuesday.
"Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction," Knicks President Leon Rose said. "We can't thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories."
Thibodeau guided New York to its first appearance in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years this season, reached the NBA Playoffs in four of his five years at the helm, and helped the team claim at least 50 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1990s.
On the other hand, Thibodeau has often been questioned over his coaching style, which many critics feel overloads top players. Three of this season's top 10 players in terms of minutes on the court are members of the Knicks – Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart held the top two spots, while OG Anunoby finished ninth. Those three also ranked among the league's top 10 in minutes per game – Hart first, Bridges third, and Anunoby fifth.
The Knicks finished the regular season in third place in the East, and knocked out both the Detroit Pistons and defending champions the Boston Celtics in six games on their way to the Conference Finals, before bowing out against the Indiana Pacers in six games.