Tom Thibodeau’s dismissal as head coach floored the New York Knicks faithful after his iconic run. For a coach who led the Knicks to four playoff appearances after years of struggles, this speaks volumes about Thibodeau’s ability. As such, his firing did not sit well with many fans.
Regardless, the decision has been made, and the Knicks faithful offered their acknowledgments to Thibodeau. His press conferences sparked energy, and although he often appeared stoic during games, he produced the results when it mattered. The only thing missing was an NBA ring, as he couldn’t push the Knicks over the finish line.
With the team’s foundation set, it’s only right to explore Thibodeau’s record with the Knicks and the winning percentage he accumulated during his tenure.
Tom Thibodeau’s Impressive Coaching Record With the New York Knicks
Thibodeau joined the Knicks when New York couldn’t make the playoffs and languished at the bottom of the table. The Big Apple franchise had a winning percentage of .330 in the last seven years before Thibodeau arrived. He took over the reins from 2020-2025 and had a win/loss record of 226-174 in 400 games.
With a .565 winning percentage, Thibodeau instilled a winning mentality within the roster, and the players responded to his system. The gradual rise of his regular-season record became evident in Thibodeau’s first season, with New York finishing at 41-31 (shortened NBA season). However, the following year, they finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs.
Of course, the real game-changer came when Jalen Brunson arrived. Brunson took over the scoring mantle, averaging 26.4 points, 6.7 assists, and has shot well from beyond the arc at 39.9% in his three seasons with the Knicks. Like a chain reaction, New York’s regular-season records improved, and the Knicks were on an upward trajectory.
Jalen Brunson Assisted Thibodeau in Improving the Knicks
The 2022-23 season saw the Knicks make headway after a 47-35 regular-season record. They reached the conference semifinals but lost to the Miami Heat. The following season, New York finished with a 50-32 regular-season record and finished second in the Eastern Conference. But yet again, the Indiana Pacers handed them a 4-3 loss in the semifinals.
Ultimately, this past season, the Knicks finished with a 51-31 record, but again lost to their nemesis, the Pacers, in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Thibodeau had a 24-23 record in the playoffs, which didn’t paint a rosy picture. Those last steps became steeper for him, ultimately costing him his job.
That said, Thibodeau made the Knicks fun despite tight rotations using six to seven players. During his tenure, New York averaged 111.7 points per game and became a strong rebounding team (particularly on offensive rebounds). He turned the Knicks from a team known more for clickbait headlines into legitimate title contenders.
Following his arrival, Thibodeau won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2021 after leading the Knicks to the playoffs after 13 years. With two Eastern Conference Coach of the Month awards, he gave the fans at Madison Square Garden a reason to cheer.
Thibodeau was unable to lead New York to a championship, but he accomplished what many other coaches could not under the same degree of pressure. As such, Thibodeau should be considered a proper icon of the Knicks franchise.
