New York (AP) – Tom Thibodeau has just taken New York Knicks to the final of the Eastern Conference, the deepest step of the playoffs in 25 years for a franchise that has reappeared as a candidate after having become their coach.
For this, he was dismissed.
The Knicks did what they called a “difficult decision” to leave Thibodeau on Tuesday, thinking that it was a necessary step in their pursuit for a championship.
“We cannot thank Tom enough for having shed his heart and his soul in each day for being the head coach of the New York Knicks. He has led us not only with courses and professionalism in the last five seasons, but also to a huge success on the field with four places in the playoffs and four victories of the eliminatory series,” said team president Leon Rose in a press release.
“In the end, we made the decision that we think that our organization goes ahead. Tom will always be part of our Knicks family and we really only wish him the best in the future. ”
The Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers with a Loss in match 6 On Saturday evening, he fell two games from their first appearance in the NBA final since 1999. Thibodeau was then asked what the Knicks had to do this summer to go further.
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“As you would after every season, you take a step back, I think decompression,” said Thibodeau. “You dive deep into the team, then you analyze what you think you need to improve.”
The Knicks decided that it was the coach.
This decision was made by Rose with the approval of the owner Jim DOLAN, according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press under the cover of anonymity because this detail was not included in the announcement. The shot was reported for the first time by ESPN.
It is a strange decision of the Knicks, which had been one of the worst franchises in the league during most of the 2000s until Thibodeau was hired in 2020. He quickly led the Knicks to the playoffs in his first season, winning his second prize for the NBA coach, and They have been a solid competitor in the east in recent seasons. They gave Thibodeau a Three -year contract extension Last summer.
Their great breakthrough arrived in 2024-25, when they Cut the defending champion Boston in the second round To reach the conference finals for the first time since 2000 – when Thibodeau was assistant under Jeff Van Gundy.
After being eliminated on Saturday, Captain Jalen Brunson expressed his support for Thibodeau, bristling to know if he thought that the coach was right for the team.
“Is this a real question right now?” Said Brunson. “Have you just asked me if I think it’s the right guy?” Yes. Come on.”
Three days later, Thibodeau had left despite a 226-174 record in New York. He has the fourth victory by a Knicks coach.
Thibodeau faced criticism that his driving style and his exceeding on his beginners have worn his players, the same people who have followed him since the start of his career as a head coach in Chicago. But his ways seemed to work in New York.
And even among the celebrities who filled Madison Square Garden, the gruff style of Thibodeau was a natural adjustment for fans who succeeded in the success focused on the defense of the 1990s.
“I am a fan of Tom Thibodeau. He brought this team “,” Ben Stiller actorWho watched the season of the qualifying series of his seat on the field, wrote on X. “I felt that he had given each piece of himself and that he was still trying to improve. I will always be grateful for the distance he brought the knicks. They are relevant again. They are again candidates for the championship. The Knicks have become victorious again with him. ”
The Knicks had not won as a eliminatory series since 2013, but have now done it in three consecutive seasons. They went 50-32 in 2023-24 and followed this with a file of 51-31 this season, after having loaded during the offseason by exchanging stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
But the person said that the organization thought there was a new voice when the Knicks tried to end their long championship drought. They won their second and last title in 1973.
Thibodeau is well aware of their history, having grown up as a fan of Knicks in Connecticut before joining the organization as an assistant coach in 1996.
He continued to help the Boston Celtics to win the NBA 2008 title as an assistant, acquired the reputation of one of the best defensive minds of the League, before finally having a chance as a head coach with the Bulls in 2010-11. He went 62-20 in his first season, winning his first coach prize for the year.
Thibodeau, who spent five seasons with the Bulls and has also resulted in Minnesota, is 578-420 as a chief coach.
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