Was Firing Tom Thibodeau the Right Move for the Knicks?

The Knicks just made the Eastern Conference Finals—and fired their most successful coach in 25 years. Here’s why it happened, what it means, and what comes next.

In the aftermath of the Knicks’ deepest playoff run in a quarter-century, the front office made its most risky and polarizing decision yet: parting ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau.

After leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals—something most Knicks fans would’ve been happy with before the season—it’s fair to ask: Was firing Thibs the right call?

Thibs: The Best Knicks Coach in 25 Years

Tom Thibodeau was the most successful Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy. In four seasons, he racked up 24 playoff wins—17 more than the previous 13 Knicks coaches combined.

He brought structure, identity, and consistent competitiveness to a franchise long plagued by chaos. With Thibs at the helm, 50 wins and reaching the second round of the playoffs became the expectation, not the dream.

He helped reestablish a defensive culture, and was instrumental in developing young players before they were traded. Guys seemed to improve under his coaching.

His work ethic was second to none—no one, inside …