The Knicks decision to fire Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday after an Eastern Conference Finals appearance shocked the NBA, as New York made it to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
However, the move is only the latest in shocking New York sports firings, as the city has a history of moving on from successful coaches who fall just short of a title. Thibodeau’s exit can now be added to a long list of notable names who were on the wrong end of the hot seat.
So, where does Thibodeau’s firing rank all-time in New York sports history? Here’s a breakdown.
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Where does Tom Thibodeau rank among shocking NYC firings?
TSN’s Dan Treacy ranks the Tom Thibodeau as the second most-shocking in New York sports history, behind only the Yankees firing Joe Girardi in 2017.
Similar to Girardi, Thibodeau was fired after losing just short of the championship round, as the Yankees lost to the Astros in seven games before New York didn’t renew Girardi’s contract. However, while the Yankees were a surprise in how good they were in 2017, making it to the ALCS despite seemingly being in a transitional phase, the Knicks were expected to be a championship contender in 2024-25.
MORE THIBODEAU:
Record as Knicks head coach
| Year | Record | Division rank | Conference rank | Result |
| 2020-21 | 41-31 | No. 3 | No. 4 | L, First Round |
| 2021-22 | 37-45 | No. 5 | No. 11 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2022-23 | 47-35 | No. 3 | No. 5 | L, Second Round |
| 2023-24 | 50-32 | No. 2 | No. 2 | L, Second Round |
| 2024-25 | 51-31 | No. 2 | No. 3 | L, Eastern Conference Finals |
Thibodeau’s tenure was successful in most categories, as the team made the playoffs four times in five years after a 19-year tenure of making the playoffs just four times.
Knicks accolades and accomplishments
Thibodeau ends his Knicks tenures as one of the most successful coaches in Knicks history, which includes:
- 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year
- 226-174 Knicks regular season record (.565 winning percentage)
- 24-23 Knicks playoff record (.511)
- Made playoffs in four of five seasons
- Won four playoff series in five seasons
Thibodeau’s 226 wins are fourth-most in team history, behind only Red Holtzman, Joe Lapchick, and Jeff Van Gundy, while his 24 playoff wins are fifth-most behind those three and Pat Riley. Between Van Gundy, who was fired in 2002, and Thibodeau, who was hired in 2020, no Knicks coach had more than 121 regular season wins or seven playoff wins.
Additionally, he is one of three coaches to win the league’s Coach of the Year award, alongside Holtzman and Riley.
Reactions to Tom Thibodeau firing
Unsurprisingly, players, fans, and NBA analysts had a variety of reactions to Thibodeau’s firing. Here’s a look at some of the most notable.
Forever Grateful 🧡💙 Thank You! https://t.co/a81D5SST1d
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 3, 2025
I am a Tom Thibodeau fan. He brought this team back. I felt he gave every bit of himself and was always looking to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he brought the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are championship contenders again. The Knicks became winners…
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 3, 2025
Knicks before Thibs:
❎ No culture
❎ .309 win% 6 yrs, worst NBA
❎ No playoffs 7 yearsKnicks under Thibs:
✅ Culture
✅ .565 win% 5 yrs – 8th NBA
✅ 4 of 5 playoffs / ECF 2025Thank you Thibs pic.twitter.com/kFNlDpAI05
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 3, 2025
Pretty hard to justify firing a coach who won four playoff series in three years when the Knicks had won a single playoff series in the prior 22 years.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 3, 2025
Firing Tom Thibodeau is a tough call but the right choice. Had all year to experiment with two-big lineups. He didn’t, even after Mitchell Robinson returned. Had all year to install layers to the offense, and he never did. Knicks need a more creative coach to take the next step.
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 3, 2025
