The New York Knicks wanted a fresh start after firing their head coach, Tom Thibodeau. Instead, they’ve got a growing pile of rejections and media mockery, and Charles Barkley is leading the charge.
With their head coaching search dragging on and no clear front-runner in sight, the Knicks have become the NBA’s favorite punchline. And Barkley’s latest jab delivered during NBA Finals coverage might just be the most brutal one yet.
What Did Charles Barkley Say About the Knicks Coaching Search?
During a Finals segment on NBA TV, Barkley took a swipe at the Knicks’ ongoing search for a head coach. Referring to Rick Carlisle’s potential success as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Barkley said:
“If [Rick Carlisle] were to win, the only bad thing about it is the Knicks ask for permission to talk to him.”
The jab landed hard because it played directly into what’s become a running narrative around the Knicks’ front office — chaos, desperation, and no clear plan. Barkley’s remark was a reflection of what many around the league have started to believe: the Knicks are flying blind.
Charles Barkley: “If [Rick Carlisle] were to win, the only bad thing about it is the Knicks ask for permission to talk to him.” #NBA #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/Vs0xIt6DxV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 13, 2025
It wasn’t the first time Barkley took aim at their coaching mishap either. In an earlier appearance, he said:
“The Knicks gotta be the stupidest damn people in the world. You don’t fire no good coach like that and don’t have a plan… Now, the three coaches turn you down. You gotta have a plan, man. And they don’t have a plan. Now, I don’t know what the hell they’re going to do.”
That quote came shortly after the Knicks parted ways with Tom Thibodeau, who guided them to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. With back-to-back 50-win seasons and four playoff trips in five years, Thibodeau wasn’t exactly failing. But his firing came anyway, and the aftermath has been messy.
Knicks Struggle to Find Tom Thibodeau’s Replacement as Rejections Pile Up
Since Thibodeau’s official exit on June 3, the Knicks have been linked to a long list of coaches. Rumors were floating that the Knicks have reached out to several potential candidates.
But, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, they haven’t requested permission to speak with several top-tier names like Rick Carlisle, Steve Kerr, Doc Rivers, Tyronn Lue, or JJ Redick.
Meanwhile, NBC New York confirmed that New York was denied permission to speak with four coaches: Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks), Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Quin Snyder (Atlanta Hawks). Kidd, Udoka, and Finch are under contract, and their teams declined the Knicks’ request.
This string of dead ends has added to the public ridicule. What started as a bold attempt to find a better postseason mind than Thibodeau has now become a frantic, confusing chase with no finish line in sight.
As per The Athletic, the Knicks are leaning toward Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown as their top choices, with interviews scheduled next week. Hopefully, the Knicks might have their head coach in two weeks.