New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who was not on the identical web page because the gamers final season, was not on the identical web page, in line with NBA insiders.
The New York Knicks had their most profitable season of 25 years, however fired Tom Thibodeau. They performed the Japanese Convention Finals and beat the reigning champion Boston Celtics within the playoffs, however the Knicks’ possession felt that Thibodeau had no benefit as a head coach to win the staff.
As an alternative, they employed Mike Brown. Brown led the Sacramento Kings to a 3rd seed in his latest tenure as head coach. He’s revered across the NBA as an elite basketball coronary heart, and goes again to his time with the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach.
In response to NBA Insiders, New York wanted a brand new begin.
Thibodeau was an old style coach. He labored arduous on his gamers each in actual life and within the recreation and had defensive outlook. His strategies led to success. He was named Coach of the Yr in 2011 and 2021.
Thibodeau turned the quickest coach in NBA historical past to win 100 profession wins in 2012, and was second in his profession to make appearances within the Japanese Convention Finals final season.
Regardless of these achievements, he did not see any eye towards Mikal Bridges, who signed a $150 million contract this offseason. That could be the important thing cause why the Knicks fired Thibodeau.
On the Ringer NBA present, insider Fred Katz defined:
“I do not assume Thibs actually did effectively with Mikal Bridges. I do not assume basketball was optimized.”
Knicks star Jalen Branson liked Thibodeau. His work ethic and want to win have been completely constant along with his head coach’s ethics. That was virtually unanimously a case between the 2023-24 Knicks. Nevertheless, final season’s staff was probably the most profitable in 1 / 4 century, however all the things wasn’t too late behind the scenes.
Katz continues. “Tivs was an incredible coach for Jalen Branson, an incredible coach for Donte Divinsenzo, and I do not assume he was an incredible coach for Mikal Bridge.
“When you may have that dynamic yearly, I feel the Knicks felt they wanted a change there.”
Thibodeau’s greatest criticism was the distribution of minutes all through the season. He has persistently performed a starter for a very long time all through the season. This might burn out within the playoffs.
The Knicks’ begin 5 final season led the NBA in a complete of minutes as a unit. The Bridges led the league in a complete of 3036 in 2024-25. This excessive instance of Thibodeau’s minutes gives perception into why Bridge did not make eye contact with the pinnacle coach.
Katz stated, “There have been a number of issues within the minutes of Tib. I used to be like, ‘It is okay, that is quite a bit.’ I’ll always remember that I took half within the Knicks-Hornets recreation in December when Knicks turned 24. It was one of many video games the place the Knicks took an enormous lead early and simply completed within the first quarter.
“The Knicks are 24 with 1:30 left, and Tibbs is pulling Mikal Bridge. It was the primary time he’d pulled him in the complete recreation. He performed for 46 and a half consecutive minutes, and the Knicks added 24 minutes.
Bridges known as out Thibodeau for taking part in too lots of his starters. In March, he stated, “It is not humorous to the physique at instances. You are not solely hoping for it as a coach, but additionally speaking to him a bit, understanding there’s sufficient staff that does not have to come back and play 48, 47.”
Paradoxically, this season hasn’t turn into a Knicks subject. They have been one of many healthiest groups of the postseason and had deep playoff runs. However dropping to the Pacers was an unacceptable end result for a season, confirmed by the Knicks’ teaching modifications.
