More than a week after dismissing head coach Tom Thibodeau, the New York Knicks` pursuit of an experienced replacement is facing early challenges. According to reporting from ESPN`s Shams Charania, New York sought permission to interview two prominent candidates: Chris Finch, the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ime Udoka, the head coach of the Houston Rockets. However, both requests were reportedly denied by their respective teams.
Finch, 55, has compiled a strong record of 209-160 (.566) over his four-plus seasons with Minnesota. Under his guidance, the Timberwolves have made consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Finals over the past two years, a significant achievement for a franchise that had reached that stage only once prior to his tenure.
It`s easy to understand the Knicks` interest in Finch. He has overseen one of the league`s top defenses for the last two seasons. In contrast, the Knicks` defense was considered slightly above average during the regular season but encountered difficulties in the Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers.
Udoka, 47, has connections to New York, having played for the Knicks during the 2005-06 season. He later served as head coach for the Boston Celtics in 2021-22, leading them to the NBA Finals in his lone season before the team suspended him for the entire 2022-23 season due to “violations of team policy,” reportedly involving an improper relationship with a team employee.
Following the Celtics` decision to promote interim coach Joe Mazzulla permanently, Udoka took the coaching position in Houston. His debut season saw the Rockets finish 41-41, and they improved significantly to 52-30 this past season, securing a playoff berth for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.
These rejections concerning Finch and Udoka come on the heels of recent reports indicating that a potential move for Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd to New York is becoming increasingly improbable. While the Knicks have not yet formally requested to interview Kidd, it is widely anticipated that Dallas would likely deny such a request.
Despite achieving their highest win total in over a decade with 51 victories in 2024-25, the Knicks were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals. The team faces a critical offseason, having invested considerable resources through “win-now” trades to acquire key players such as Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, highlighting the urgency for success.
Jasper Hawthorne