The New York Knicks are having trouble finding a new head coach, and things aren’t going well. The Knicks have been trying hard to hire big-name coaches since firing Tom Thibodeau after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they keep getting rejected.
They first reached out about Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets), but both teams denied their requests. Then, they tried to speak with Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks), but Dallas rejected them as well.
The Knicks are one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, and their market power and recent success make them an attractive destination. Despite that, they are struggling to land a head coach, leaving them at a massive crossroads.
New York Knicks’ Coaching Search Could Shake Up the NBA, Insider Says
The problem mostly arises because the Knicks seem to be targeting coaches who are already under contract, which is making their search difficult. At this point, the Knicks don’t have a clear frontrunner, and their search is starting to look desperate rather than strategic.
Knicks Insider Alan Hahn shared his thoughts on the New York Knicks’ coaching search. He said the team is swinging big by going after top names.
He told ESPN, “On the surface, does look like three strikes, you’re out. But we all know that denials, you know, there’s always ways to go about it. And sometimes it’s maybe the coaches that have to say, you know, I’m not really happy here. And then the teams have to reconsider. But that’s all right now what you do is you target the top choices. Who do you want? I’ve always said this, you’re in a big market, you swing.”
.@alanhahn and @McNuttMonica react to the Mavs giving the Knicks a “firm rejection” when requesting to speak to Dallas’ head coach Jason Kidd about their open coaching position. pic.twitter.com/WXS0VgZhZX
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 11, 2025
Despite setbacks, Hahn pointed out that there are still experienced candidates available, such as Michael Malone, Mike Brown, and Mike Budenholzer, who are all without a current coaching job. Meanwhile, Monica McNutt also gave Knicks fans a reason to stay hopeful.
She added, “To me, Greeny, the part that you hold onto if you’re a Knicks fan is that to me, this is still a very desirable job. You’ve got a talented roster, you’re in a big city, the team is playing the best ball that has played in literally two decades, and you’ve got an amicable… Well then maybe that’s not the right word, but an easy superstar in terms of Jalen Brunson being a guy that wants to work well with both his coach and his teammates.”
The Knicks have had a mixed history with head coaches. Over the years, big names like Jeff Van Gundy, Pat Riley, and Mike D’Antoni have each brought their own style to the team. Since 2020, Tom Thibodeau has been leading the charge. Under him, the Knicks have posted a solid 226-174 record in the regular season and gone 24-23 in the playoffs.
Right now, the Knicks are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory. They finished third in the Eastern Conference with a strong 51-31 record.
One major reason for their success is Jalen Brunson. He stepped up in the playoffs, averaging an impressive 30.4 points per game. His leadership and scoring made a huge impact, putting the Knicks in a great position to build for the future.
Yes, they didn’t make it to the playoffs this time, but hope is still alive. Fans are optimistic that the team will soon resolve its coaching situation and bring in someone who can guide them to the next level.
