In a move that caught many by surprise, the New York Knicks have parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau — just days after the team made its deepest playoff run since the 1990s.

The decision, announced Tuesday, comes three days after the Knicks were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals in six games by the Indiana Pacers. Despite the disappointing end, New York’s postseason journey included a stunning second-round upset over the defending champion Boston Celtics and showcased the emergence of a promising new core.

A Surprising Goodbye to a Proven Winner

Thibodeau, who was signed to a three-year extension just last summer, leaves behind a legacy of stability and success in a franchise that has long craved both. Over five seasons, he led the Knicks to consecutive 50-win campaigns — a feat the team hadn’t accomplished since 1995 — and this year surpassed Pat Riley to become fourth all-time in coaching victories for the storied franchise.

Still, the front office felt a change was needed.

“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” team president Leon Rose said in a statement. “This pursuit led us to the decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction.”

Rose thanked Thibodeau for his dedication and heart, calling him “forever part of our Knicks family.”

Thibs’ Deep Knicks Roots and Lasting Impact

Thibodeau’s connection to the Knicks stretches back to the ‘90s, when he served as an assistant under Jeff Van Gundy during one of the franchise’s most memorable eras. One of his assistant coaches, Rick Brunson, played for those same Knicks teams and used to bring his young son, Jalen, to practices — the same Jalen Brunson who now stars as the team’s franchise player.

Brunson, visibly frustrated when asked about Thibodeau’s job security after their season-ending loss, responded: “Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy? Yes. Come on.”

A Season of Bold Moves and Big Minutes

The 2024-25 season was anything but conventional for the Knicks. In a flurry of aggressive moves, the front office sent five first-round picks to Brooklyn for Mikal Bridges, then flipped Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in exchange for All-NBA big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

The trades transformed the Knicks into one of the most talented starting lineups in the league — but at the cost of bench depth. True to form, Thibodeau leaned heavily on his starters, often playing them more than any other five-man unit in the NBA, even as the league continues to prioritize rest and load management.

A Strong Coaching Resume, Still Missing a Finals

Thibodeau’s time in New York was his third head coaching stint in the NBA, following tenures in Chicago (2010–15) and Minnesota (2016–19). Across all three stops, he has compiled a .579 winning percentage — the highest in league history among coaches without a Finals appearance (minimum 300 games), per ESPN Research.

Though he exits without reaching the NBA’s biggest stage, Thibodeau’s impact on the Knicks’ culture and identity will be hard to ignore.

Now, as the team looks to build on its recent momentum with a new voice at the helm, one thing is clear: expectations in New York have changed — and they’re higher than ever.

Source: ESPN – Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau as coach after five seasons

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INDIANAPOLIS — Down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and facing elimination pressure, the New York Knicks made a bold move ahead of Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. Head coach Tom Thibodeau inserted Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup, giving the team a fresh look as it seeks to spark a turnaround.

This marks Robinson’s first start of the 2025 postseason and only his fourth since returning in February from offseason ankle surgery. His inclusion came at the expense of do-it-all forward Josh Hart, ending Hart’s impressive streak of 140 consecutive starts.

But Hart took the change in stride.

“I’ve been the 15th man, the sixth man — I’ve done it all,” he said ahead of Sunday’s game. “I feel like I’m a starter, but if Coach makes the call, I’m all in. I can’t preach sacrifice and then get upset when I’m asked to make one. That’s not who I am.”

Thibodeau Breaks From Tradition

The shake-up represents a significant departure from Thibodeau’s typical approach. All season long, he’s leaned heavily on a consistent starting five — Hart, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges — more than any coach in the league. But after getting outscored by 13 points in 17 minutes with that lineup in Game 2, change was overdue.

The numbers tell the story: Since January 1, that core group has been outscored by 59 points across 687 minutes. In just two games against the Pacers, they’re minus-29 in 43 minutes on the floor — allowing Indiana to score a blistering 155.1 points per 100 possessions.

When asked about the ongoing struggles, Thibodeau kept it short.
“Yeah, we just gotta keep looking at it. Gotta do better.”

And when pressed further about lineup changes after falling behind 2-0, his answer was blunt:
“We always look at everything.”

Robinson-Towns Combo Brings New Energy

Thibodeau ultimately went with a “double-big” look, pairing Towns and Robinson to try and dominate the boards and disrupt Indiana’s offense.

Robinson has averaged modest numbers in the playoffs — 4.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 19.5 minutes — but his impact is undeniable. When he and Towns are on the floor together, the Knicks are +27 in just 106 minutes, thanks largely to their defensive pressure and ability to crash the offensive glass. In fact, New York has recovered an eye-popping 41.5% of its own misses when that duo shares the court.

“Robinson’s a major factor,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “He gives them defensive versatility, especially with his ability to switch onto smaller players. He creates extra possessions, and he even knocked down free throws when it mattered in the Boston series. We’ve been preparing for him.”

Hart: It’s All About Energy

Regardless of who’s starting, Hart believes what the Knicks need most isn’t just a tactical shift — it’s a change in mindset.

“We need something drastic in terms of our energy, effort, and competitiveness,” Hart said. “You can’t have lapses, especially at the start. If you let a team like Indiana — as talented as they are offensively — get comfortable early, you’re playing catch-up. The biggest adjustment we can make is bringing intensity from the jump.”

Bottom Line:

With their backs against the wall, the Knicks are betting on fresh legs and tougher defense to get back into the series. Whether the lineup change pays off remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear — the urgency is real, and Game 3 could define their postseason fate.

Source: Yahoo Sports – Knicks vs. Pacers: Mitchell Robinson gets starting nod for Game 3; Josh Hart not fazed by bump to bench

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