Contrary to previous reports that Knicks president Leon Rose made the decision to fire Tom Thibodeau, sources tell Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports that owner James Dolan spearheaded the move.
Dolan and Rose both held exit meetings with the team’s top players and members of the coaching staff after New York was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals. Goodwill hears that Dolan handled the questioning in those meetings, while Rose was in more of a support role. Sources also tell Goodwill that Dolan has never been a strong supporter of Thibodeau during his five seasons with the team.
According to Goodwill’s sources, at least two players complained that Thibodeau gave too many minutes to his starters and wasn’t willing to adjust that philosophy to changing circumstances. That has been a frequent criticism of Thibodeau throughout his career, dating back to his days as a head coach in Chicago and Minnesota.
Another player reportedly told Dolan and Rose that he didn’t feel like he could play another season under Thibodeau.
Thibodeau’s failure to develop a reliable bench was evident in the playoffs, particularly against a fast-paced Indiana team that has now eliminated the Knicks two straight years. Thibodeau’s insertion of Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup in Game 2 of the conference finals and his decision to give expanded minutes to Landry Shamet and Delon Wright could be viewed as desperation moves.
Thibodeau still had three years and $30MM left on his contract, and Goodwill emphasizes that he was fired because Dolan wanted to make a change, not because he failed to reach the NBA Finals.
And your cable bill just went up again to cover that $30MM contract extension
Dolan sold Cablevision a long time ago
He owns MSG Network and the Gotham Sports App.
Wonder if Dolan would’ve fired Thibodeau still had Knicks made the NBA finals? I mean, the owner didn’t like the coach anyway. Why did he hire Thibodeau still? Seems like Team’s ownership is not really aligned – or discombobulated – with what they really want on how to run a professional basketball team… I guess Dolan is the owner and can do as a pleases…
Obviously this was Dolan. Anyone buying that it was Rose doesn’t know the Knicks.
What a mistake. Thibs was not ideal but Kidd, Malone who without league mvp doesn’t win and is a Thibs clone. I wanted Wright but not happening. We have to move Kat and his 60mill a yr. just going to get slower and worse On D
You offloaded Randle who is so much worse. And Donte had a terrible year that took minutes from younger players.
I could’ve told you Thibs is bad. And not good for the modern NBA with higher, more demanding athleticism. Surprised he lasted 5.
Thibs is a proven, great coach and the Knicks will definitely look back at this decision with regret.
Open letter to James Dolan:
Since your pockets are so deep that you can pay out $30M for Thibs to NOT coach your team for 3 years, I’m available. I will readily agree to a contract to NOT: Play for, Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Join the Front Office of the Knicks Organization.
Contact Me Immediately!!
I am ready willing and able to help you to divest your excess funds. I’m a bargain!!
This is just Rose damage control, he made
CAA Knicks. Last off-season deals were business related and no sport driven, especially Bridges deal. 100% next coach will be CAA client.
The biggest issue with Thibs is he never gave you any indication he was willing to consider addressing his faults, which have been well documented and fly in the face of all common sense. In fact, he would often show outright defiance to doing so. That’s exactly the type of guy who you can’t feel confident in growing enough to lead a championship team.
Did he make some adjustments? Yes. But when you have these sort of arbitrary blinders on, the hope of the truly necessary adjustments being made can’t be there. Thibs has no one but himself to blame for this despite all of the good things he brings to the table. He is a clearly flawed individual that doesn’t handle criticism well and is best suited for turning a franchise around.
> The biggest issue with Thibs is he never gave you any
> indication he was willing to consider addressing his
> faults.
There you have it. His epitaph.
Key phrase: “willing to consider”. That is what made Thibs the definitive “good coach that can never win it all.”
Dolan doing some smart meddling for once…
Surrrrrrre. Lol
Thibs does play his regulars way too much but he always has. Dolan is a known meddling owner, always has been. None of this is surprising. Rose overpaid for Bridges who simply is not a superstar. Haliburton and Siakam were the two best players in that series. Maybe Rose should have gotten more for all those picks. Who should have been fired? Not Thibs.
My first reaction to the firing was that it was a move that only a 2k’er could love, and was likely coming from the 2k faction of the FO. Not a good sign.
But if this Yahoo has good sources (I’ve never heard of him), and the idea came from the mind of James Dolan, that’s actually worse. Although Dolan is certainly smarter than the 2k’ers (not saying alot), he’s also more reckless and actually in charge, without any check. This team could be a trainwreck before they play another game.
BTW, the only good source for all of this would be at the top of the org chart, or someone authorized from there.
playhard9,
For all these mistakes, you have to give Dolan some credit for (finally) trying. He took a swing. It’s his money going to the monster luxury tax, and nobody else’s.
Being in the largest market, there’s no excuse for interminable irrelevancy. Maybe he got tired of hearing that.
Keep telling yourself that.
I love watching to Knicks shoot themselves in the foot every time they get good.
You can count on Mr Dolan to make the right decision… Thibs is one of the worst coaches in the league, good riddance to him!
Now NYK might have a shot in the coming years!
Well done Mr Dolan!
There we go lol just after I congratulated Dolan for staying out of it. Nature finds a way.