In stunning fashion, the New York Knicks relieved former head coach Tom Thibodeau of his duties following the Knicks’ most successful season in 25 years, but it wasn’t without reason.
After the Knicks bowed out in six games to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the front office evaluated amongst themselves, and with their players, if Thibodeau should return for a sixth season in New York.
According to a report from Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo! Sports, the decision to fire Thibodeau was spearheaded by Knicks owner James Dolan. He, along with GM Leon Rose, held exit interviews with key Knicks players who voiced their frustrations with the head coach, with Dolan at the forefront of those discussions.
Players complained of Thibodeau’s rigid rotations, often relying on his starters for heavy minutes, and some players felt the coach could not adjust, according to the report. One player even went as far as to say they were unsure if they could play for Thibodeau again should he have returned next season.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
A few instances of mounting frustration were apparent throughout the regular season. Early in the season, Josh Hart told reporters that he was unsure of his role with the team. Later on, Mikal Bridges complained about Thibodeau’s reliance on the starters as he vouched for the team’s reserves to earn more playing time.
Thibodeau departs New York as one of the franchise’s most successful head coaches. Despite that, it was evident that both the players and the front office felt that change was needed to maximize the team’s championship window.
