Tom Thibodeau’s firing was the only solution for New York Knicks’ ownership to overcome the hump.
The New York Knicks may be one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, but they have little success in the 21st century.
Well, that was the case until 2020 when Tom Thibodeau joined the team as head coach. Since then, the Knicks have made four NBA postseason appearances, including a trip to the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals.
Coach Tibbs deserves it, but at the same time he also deserves blame for his inability to cross the hump. That said, Brooklyn Nets star Cam Thomas has explained the Knicks’ ownership dilemma over manager Thibodeau.
There is no denying the quality of the current Knicks roster, led by the dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
But even a star player can’t lead a team to glory without the support of a head coach. In the case of Thibodeau, trusting his bench and reluctant to give certain Knicks players astronomical minutes would result in him being bitten.
But did Coach Tibbs deserve to be fired for this? Now, Thomas believes Knicks’ ownership has no other options after the ECF exit.
“It’s a bit odd to say this, but the first thoughts are no real shock now,” Thomas said on three podcasts with the young man. “From a team building perspective, I’ve come to see that.”
He added: “That team is a really good roster and they seem really close.
The Nets star concluded by saying, “I think that’s the best solution they’ve had.”
Whether it’s really the “best solution” or not, the Knicks fanbase will know after seeing the team perform in the 2025-26 NBA season. Top Brass, meanwhile, needs to find a quality head coach as an alternative to Tibs.
Coach Thibodeau may no longer be a bystander during the game, but he can take the time before signing another team.
After all, he signed a three-year, $30 million contract extension in July 2024. After the 2027-28 NBA season, the contract had expired.
However, the Knicks plundered Tibs, so he guarantees $30 million even if he is expelled as the team’s head coach.
So, unless the Knicks can quickly win the NBA Championship, the decision to fire Thibodeaux could plague the team financially over the next three years.