The New York Knicks find themselves in the market for a new head coach, as the team announced Tuesday afternoon that Tom Thibodeau had been relieved of his duties, despite leading the team to the postseason in four of his five seasons in the Big Apple.
Thibs led the Knickerbockers to the no.2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record this season. The Knicks defeated a feisty and improved Detriot Pistons 4-1 in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs and then ended the reign of the defending champion Boston Celtics by dispatching them 4-2 in the conference semifinals. However, the Knicks postseason run would be ended by the Indiana Pacers, for the second straight year, who defeated them 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks, who are still searching for their first NBA title since 1973, have made moves to signal they are serious about ending that drought. The team sent 5 first-round draft picks out the door to require Mikal Bridges, signed OG Anunoby to a 5-year, $212.5 million contract, the largest deal in team history, and dealt Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. Unfortunately for the Knicks, and ultimately Coach Thibondeau, these moves were not enough to get them over the hump and back to their first NBA finals since the lockout-shortened 1999 season.
Tom Thibodeau compiled a 226-174 record in five seasons as Knicks head coach. He was just one year into a three-year contract extension he signed last summer.
Rumored successors include former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and, for some reason, Mike Budenholzer.
