New York Knicks Fire Head Coach Tom Thibodeau Following Team's Best Playoff Run in 25 Years
The franchise “decided to move in another direction.”
Summary
- The New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after their best playoff run
- The decision aims to move the team in “another direction” towards a championship
- Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first ECF in 25 years and two consecutive 50-win seasons
The New York Knicks have fired head coach Tom Thibodeau following the end of their best playoff run in decades.
“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement via ESPN. “This pursuit led us to the decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction. We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach.”
“… Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future,” the statement continued.
The announcement was made just days after the Knicks were defeated by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. This marked the first time in 25 years that the franchise made it this far into the playoffs; they last appeared in the ECF in 2000, when they coincidentally also lost the series to the Pacers.
ESPN adds that Thibs became the Knicks’ most successful coach in over two decades. On top of making it to the ECF, he also led the team to two consecutive 50-win seasons for the first time in 30 years.
