Tom Thibodeau, fired as the head coach of the New York Knicks, continues to garner attention. The longtime coach was let go after five seasons following the Knicks’ Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Since his ouster, multiple reports have detailed the reasons behind the shocking move by the Knicks front office. Thibodeau, on his part, finally responded to the move with an emotional gesture.
Tom Thibodeau Bids Adieu With Full Page Ad In The New York Times
Per NBA insider Michael Scotto, Thibodeau took out a full page ad in The New York Times thanking his players, staff, and the fans for their support.
“To the city in the world with the best fans in the world: Thank you,” Thibodeau wrote. “When I was hired in 2020, I said this was my dream job. I am grateful that dream became a reality. Thank you to our players who had, and to everyone who makes this franchise special, I am proud of everything we accomplished together, including four straight Eastern Conference playoffs, our first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years.”
Tom Thibodeau took a full page advertisement in the New York Times to thank Knicks players, coaches, and fans.
Thibs in part: “When I was hired in 2020, I said this was my dream job. I am grateful that dream became a reality.” pic.twitter.com/v1RAgXPtGJ
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 11, 2025
He further added, “And to the fans, thank you for believing in me and embracing me from day one. Watching you support our team and seeing Knicks energy is something I’ll never forget.”
Thibodeau was crucial in transforming the Knicks after taking over in 2020. He led the team to the playoffs four times, with the ECF run as the best of all. The Knicks have a 226-174 record under Thibodeau and are 24-23 in the playoffs while revamping their roster consistently.
New York is already on the move to find Thibodeau’s successor. According to sources of NBA insider Shams Charania, Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch were considered suitable candidates. This comes amid reports that the team is interested in Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who also played for the Knicks before his coaching role.
The Knicks have other names they can target, too. Former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone leads the list with former NBA player Chris Quinn as one of the probable candidates. Jeff Van Gundy is another name to watch out for.
New York will also be mulling over the idea of getting a fresh first-time coach. Only time will tell who will be Tom Thibodeau’s successor in the days to come.