The New York Knicks’ head coaching search has hit a significant snag, with NBA insider Shams Charania shedding light on the team’s pivot after a series of high-profile rejections. The Knicks, fresh off a surprising decision to part ways with Tom Thibodeau, have been denied permission by rival teams to interview their coaches, forcing the front office to re-evaluate its strategy.
The decision to fire Thibodeau remains puzzling to many around the league. He led the Knicks to back-to-back 50-win seasons, a rare achievement for the franchise, and guided them to their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years. Despite this success, team executives opted for a change, a move that now appears even more questionable given their struggles to find a replacement.
New York’s initial efforts to pursue established coaching talent have been met with firm resistance. The Knicks were reportedly rebuffed in their attempts to interview Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets, and Quinn Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks. This string of denials highlights the difficult landscape the Knicks face as they search for a new leader.
Shams Charania Offers Insight Into Knicks’ Revised Approach in Head Coach Search
Appearing on Friday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Charania revealed the Knicks are now considering a broader pool of candidates.
“I think they’re going to look at more former head coaches that are in the marketplace,” Charania said. “They will look at Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins, and Mike Malone is also out there. I expect them to look today, tomorrow, and over the weekend into some former head coaches, maybe even assistant coaches at the NBA level right now.”
“I expect them to look today, tomorrow, and over the weekend into some former head coaches, maybe even assistant coaches at the NBA level right now.”@ShamsCharania tells @PatMcAfeeShow what he expects the Knicks to do in their head coaching search. pic.twitter.com/BzuFIjhNkl
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 13, 2025
Among assistant coaches, potential options include Sam Cassell of the Boston Celtics, Chris Quinn of the Miami Heat, and Maurice Cheeks, who is currently on the Knicks’ staff. All three are former players who could bring valuable on-court insight to the role.
Another intriguing name is Jeff Van Gundy, now an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers. Van Gundy, who served as Knicks head coach from 1996 to 2001, is reportedly eager for another head coaching opportunity and could be a candidate for a reunion.
This shift toward available or current assistant coaches suggests the Knicks are expanding their options after failing to land their initial targets. While names like Brown and Jenkins bring head coaching experience, the path forward is far less certain than it was when the team controversially parted ways with Thibodeau.