Overview

• Team president Leon Rose made the decision with owner James Dolan’s backing on June 3, ending Thibodeau’s five-year tenure
• Under Thibodeau the Knicks reached the playoffs four times in five seasons and recorded their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years after upsetting the defending champion Celtics
• Despite a roster led by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, concerns over bench depth and in-game rotations overshadowed postseason achievements
• New York has launched a coaching search with internal candidate Rick Brunson and veterans Frank Vogel and Michael Malone among the top contenders
• Thibodeau’s dismissal continues a recent NBA pattern of ousting successful coaches, as every Coach of the Year winner from 2018 to 2023 has since been fired