The Knicks announced Thibodeau’s dismissal just three days after their 2025 NBA playoffs ended against the Indiana Pacers ‒ and less than a year after he reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension to remain in New York. Thibodeau’s tenure with the Knicks lasted five seasons, culminating with consecutive 50-win campaigns for the first time since Pat Riley and Patrick Ewing were the stars at Madison Square Garden in the 1990s.
‘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 in a statement announcing Thibodeau’s firing.
Thibodeau’s coaching style could be controversial because of how much he played his starters, but the results were unlike anything the Knicks had experienced in decades. New York won playoff series in three-straight seasons under Thibodeau, and the franchise hadn’t been to the conference finals since 2000.
Thibodeau, 67, previously served as the head coach for the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. His .579 career winning percentage is the highest by any coach without an NBA Finals appearance (minimum 300 games coached), according to ESPN.
Given all that, there was a wide range of reactions to the Knicks’ decision to fire Thibodeau among team supporters and NBA observers across the country. Some expressed appreciation, both for Thibodeau’s tenure and the championship goals that convinced the front office to move on from him. Others warned the Knicks are taking a major risk in getting rid of their best coaching hire in years.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most insightful and interesting comments made in the wake of Thibodeau’s time as the Knicks’ coach coming to an end on Tuesday:
