Despite having their best postseason performance since 2000, the New York Knicks dismissed head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, following their elimination in the Eastern Conference Finals. This decision came as a surprise to many within the league, including fellow coaches.
Among those caught off guard was Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, whose team had just eliminated the Knicks. When asked about Thibodeau`s firing on Wednesday, ahead of the start of the NBA Finals, Carlisle openly expressed his shock at New York`s unexpected move.
“When I first saw it I thought it was one of those fake AI things. There’s no way,” he commented, adding that he didn`t believe it was “possible.”
Thibodeau served as the Knicks` head coach for five seasons, leading the team to the playoffs in four of those years. After reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals in both 2023 and 2024, they advanced to the Conference Finals this season, ultimately losing to Indiana in six games. Prior to their playoff run, New York achieved a 51-31 regular-season record and defeated the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in the East semifinals.
Carlisle acknowledged that Thibodeau had guided the Knicks through one of their more successful periods in recent history and recognized the unique challenges and intense scrutiny associated with coaching in New York.
Carlisle described the Knicks coaching position as “one of the most difficult jobs to take,” citing “such a unique situation with so much attention and such a large fanbase and such a worldwide following.” He added, “There were a lot of lean years. Thibs went in there and changed so much… And I know how the players feel about him, too.”
Despite the dismissal, Carlisle voiced confidence that Thibodeau would not be away from the NBA coaching ranks for long, expecting him to find another opportunity when he feels ready.
He stated, “Tom will certainly be fine. I don’t think he’s gonna have any problem finding his next job, it’s just going to depend on when he’s ready to jump back in again. I have great respect for Thibs. I go back with him a very long way. I was surprised.”
Jasper Hawthorne