The Knicks are in limbo. They fired Tom Thibodeau simply days after their deepest playoff run in 25 years and now they’re getting stonewalled of their hunt for a alternative.
New York has already been denied permission to talk with 4 head coaches: Jason Kidd, Chris Finch, Ime Udoka, Quin Snyder, in line with ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Since Shams’ report, it appears New York have been denied as soon as extra by Chicago, Bulls Insider Okay.C Johnson.
“The Knicks requested permission to talk to Billy Donovan for his or her teaching emptiness however have been denied, per sources,” he mentioned. “The Bulls worth Donovan extremely for his teaching acumen, communication expertise and skill to attach with gamers and all members of group.”
Kidd only in the near past led Dallas to the Finals. Finch has Minnesota on the rise. Udoka snapped Houston’s playoff drought and earned the No. 2 seed. Snyder’s Hawks have doubled down on his imaginative and prescient. Even Jay Wright, with deep ties to a number of Knicks gamers from his Villanova days, gave a agency “no.”
In the meantime Thibodeau left the town the identical manner he arrived: with grit and gratitude.
He took out a full-page advert in The New York Occasions to thank followers.
Thanks, New York. pic.twitter.com/bKpZlBEgux
— Tom Thibodeau (@thibodeau_96709) June 11, 2025
“To the perfect metropolis on the earth with the perfect followers on the earth: Thanks,” he wrote. “Once I was employed in 2020, I mentioned this was my dream job. I’m grateful that dream turned a actuality.”
Thibodeau added, “I’m happy with every little thing we achieved collectively, together with 4 playoff appearances and this 12 months’s run to the Japanese Convention Finals, our first in 25 years.”
Whereas some gamers reportedly grew uninterested in his strategies, the outcomes spoke volumes: 51 wins this season, a playoff push, and an id that felt like Knicks basketball once more.
Now the query of who’s subsequent for the Knicks stays however there may be hope. Names like Mike Budenholzer, Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Brown, and even Michael Malone have surfaced. However for now, Madison Sq. Backyard echoes with uncertainty.
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