Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks Part Ways With Tom Thibodeau Despite Historic Season, Deep Playoffs Run

Akash Vaishnav

Last updated: June 4, 2025

3 min read

New York Knicks fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after surprise playoff exit — fans left stunned by the timing.

Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks have relieved head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday. The 67-year-old was unexpectedly relieved of his duties following the Knicks’ deep playoff run this season. Fans and analysts likewise have slammed the move.

The Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years after beating the Boston Celtics. However, they couldn’t close out the job against the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers’ dominance proved too much, ending New York’s postseason dream abruptly.

Despite some occasional comebacks, the Knicks suffered dominanting losses against the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton led his side to some massive clutch victories as well. Eventually, the Indiana Pacers knocked out the Knicks for good by 4-2.

WOW WOW WOW. I can’t believe the NY Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was fired today after leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals! 🤯 The biggest question is why was he fired? Now, who will be the next coach of the Knicks?
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 3, 2025

Jalen Brunson publicly backed Thibodeau’s leadership following the elimination, calling him the right man for the job. However, just days later, the franchise has fired the former Salem State player.

Tom Thibodeau ended his tenure with a record of 226-174 in New York. He has the fourth strongest record at the franchise as a coach. He also guided the Knicks to their first three consecutive playoff appearances since 2013, including the 2023-24 season.

Management Breaks Silence On Firing

ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first one to report the Knicks’ decision to fire Tom Thibodeau. It was after the media leak that the Knicks’ management quickly moved to make a statement regarding the developments. New York Knicks released a statement.

They said, “Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in a different 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.”

They added, “He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories. 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 New York Knicks have a huge offseason ahead of them now. They will have to quickly look for a new coach and build the roster around them. Knicks’ management has suggested some changes could occur in the roster as well.

New York Knicks

Tom Thibodeau

Akash Vaishnav

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I cover NBA at the Playoffs. I specialize in covering breaking news, Previews, in in-depth analysis (breaking down numbers, complex stats, nuances of the game, and converting them into reader-friendly content). Furthermore, I got into the sports media while looking for an entry into the media industry. I love International Relations, and since entry without majoring in the subject was difficult, I got into sports. Now, while majoring in International Relations on one side, I also like covering sports as part of the journey as a young Journalist.