The New York Knicks` recent journey to the Eastern Conference Finals, their first since 2000, concluded just like their last one did 25 years prior: a defeat to the Indiana Pacers in six games. Following this loss, the team enters a crucial offseason facing a key decision: should they maintain the current roster or make significant changes?
One potential change, arguably the simplest as it avoids salary cap complications or trade searches, would be dismissing coach Tom Thibodeau. While some commentary has suggested this path, initial reports indicate the team plans otherwise. However, given James Dolan`s leadership, any possibility remains open.
Soon after the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in Game 6 with a 125-108 loss on Saturday, The Athletic reported that Thibodeau retains the backing of important organizational figures.
During his postgame press conference, Brunson was directly questioned about whether Thibodeau is the right coach to elevate the Knicks further. His response was emphatic and unsurprising: “Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he`s the right guy. Yes. Come on.”
Thibodeau took the coaching reins in 2020 and promptly ended the Knicks` seven-year playoff drought, earning Coach of the Year honors in 2021. Over his five seasons, he has guided the team to the playoffs four times, secured at least one series victory in three consecutive years, and led them to their initial Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the year 2000.
Despite successfully restoring the Knicks` status as a competitive force in the Eastern Conference, Thibodeau has faced criticism, particularly regarding issues that potentially contributed to their playoff exit.
A persistent source of criticism from both fans and players has been his tendency to heavily rely on starters, a topic that resurfaced prominently this season. In March, Mikal Bridges, who played a team-high 37 minutes per game for the Knicks (ranking fourth in the league), publicly expressed concerns about the extensive playing time.
Bridges remarked, “Sometimes it`s not fun on the body.” He added that while a coach desires this, he had discussed it with Thibodeau, highlighting that the team`s depth allows for bench players to contribute, making such high minute totals (47 or 48) unnecessary.
Furthermore, questions arose concerning Thibodeau`s hesitation to adjust player rotations, especially during the postseason. Despite the common starting five (Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns – *Note: Original text listed Towns, likely an error, but translated as written*) finishing the playoffs with a concerning minus-6.2 net rating over 335 minutes, Thibodeau waited until Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals to implement a change. At that point, the Knicks were already trailing 2-0 in the series, making the adjustment appear belated.
Thibodeau, whose contract was extended in 2024 through the 2028 season, is widely regarded as an excellent coach deserving significant praise for his contributions in New York. However, the legitimate question of whether he can guide the team to ultimate contention remains pertinent this offseason, irrespective of player opinions like Brunson`s.
Jasper Hawthorne