Use anomalies with star players and a The global failure to make the most of a talented list were main reasons for which the New York Knicks A licensed Tom Thibodeau this week after guiding the franchise to his first appearance in the final of the conference in 25 seasons, according to a Sny report.
According to the report, a meeting between the players and the staff of the Front Office raised specific doubts about the meaning of Thibodeau’s global coaching, and these data points were part of what fueled the franchise movement in a new direction before the 2025-26 season.
“The list of whole knick (s) had a strong respect / admiration for Tom Thibodeau”, ” Ian Beggley of Sny wrote on x. “The players interviewed this week in the evaluation spoke respectfully of Thibodeau while also emphasizing the areas that had to change / improve. These comments took Thibs into account. “
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A ESPN report This week revealed that the president of Knicks, Leon Rose, and the owner James Dolan met “best rotation players” after the release of the team’s playoffs. From there, people inside the organization determined that the franchise did not “maximize its talent” under Thibodeau.
“The players had not settled Thibodeau,” said a source in ESPN, but there was a doubt that he could lead them to the final after the way the Knicks lost against the Pacers“Wrote Ramona Shelburne d’Espn.
Although he is well known Star Knicks Jalen Brunson was a fervent supporter of ThibodeauMany wondered if his body would hold it up given the number of minutes that he and others played in the section. Global efficiency was an increased problem within the organization, but not something that Thibodeau was going to change; He is known to rely on his five departure with the help of key reserves. The Knicks had three players Inside the most played minutes of the NBA this seasonincluding Mikal Bridges And Josh HartWho arrived at numbers 1 and 3, respectively, with an average of more than 37 minutes per match. Brunson, who missed time this season with calf and ankle injuries, was in the top 20 for the medium -sized minutes played.
Beggley said this week, it was surprised that New York put the branch on Thibodeau and would have been easy and justifiable to bring Thibodeau back for a sixth season.
“It was progress from year to year … This is what you are looking for when you build a team that can face,” said Beggley. “But that tells you about where they think there is. And the feeling of urgency, the feeling of immediacy they have to want to go to the final and go to an NBA championship.”
Research is underway for the next Knicks coach. They asked to speak With Jason Kidd of Dallas MavericksAnd There is an interest In the Ime Udoka by Houston and Chris Finch of Minnesota, according to Begley. THE Rocket Think long -term with Udoka and “no interest in entertain” a scenario in which he leaves for New York, by a Athletics report. Uconn Dan Hurley coach Brushed a question this week on the vacancy of the KnicksBut Beggley said the double national champion was not at the top of the New York target list.
Thibodeau, 67, is a double coach of the year of the NBA and guided the Knicks to their most successful race in more than a decade with three consecutive appearances in the playoffs during his mandate. The second place of this season in the Atlantic division included the most regular victories (51) that the Knicks have obtained since the 2012-13 campaign under Mike Woodson, when the franchise finished 54-28 before withdrawing in the semi-final of the Conference at the Indiana.