Knicks buzz, aggregated for your pleasure.
The New York Knicks’ decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals has dominated headlines, stirring up questions about what NBA teams expect from their leaders, how organizations define success, and whether merit still matters in modern coaching.
Eric Koreen of The Athletic examines the firing through a philosophical lens. He questions what fans really want from coaches. “On merit, Thibodeau should still be there,” Koreen writes, citing the Knicks’ 51-win season, a win over the defending champs, and their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. Yet in today’s NBA, “merit” has become more complex. As Koreen puts it: “It has never been harder to determine what ‘deserve’ means when it comes to leading an NBA team.”
Mentioned in the article: In a weird moment during a NYC mayoral debate, the candidates were asked to weigh in on the firing. Seven opposed the move. Only one, Michael Blake, supported the Knicks’ decision, arguing, “Our goal is to win the finals, not to get to the conference finals.”
Sam Amico at Hoops Wire reports that Thibodeau’s ouster might not have been purely performance-based. Multiple players reportedly expressed discomfort with the influence wielded by assistant coach Rick Brunson, Jalen’s dad and one of Thibs’ hand-picked guys. One source told Amico that Rick is “the person with the most power in the entire organization.” For the record, Jalen was vocal in his support for Thibs after the Pacers series.
Ian Begley of SNY confirmed that team president Leon Rose consulted “top players”—with James Dolan present—before making the decision. Rose said, “Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship… we truly wish [Tom] nothing but the best.”
Rumors quickly swirled about the Knicks’ next move, with names like Jason Kidd and Ime Udoka emerging. But both the Mavericks and Rockets are reportedly unwilling to let the Knicks speak with them, according to Marc Stein.
Meanwhile, Dan Hurley—twice an NCAA champion with UConn—appears uninterested in reprising last summer’s Lakers drama. Per the New York Post, Hurley shrugged off speculation: “Not another summer of that.” While not a definitive “no,” sources say UConn isn’t concerned about losing him to the pros. With Jay Wright reportedly not un-retiring either, the Knicks’ coaching search is already hitting walls.
The coaching shake-up comes amid revelations that the Knicks made a trade deadline offer for Kevin Durant, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. “There was mutual interest,” Charania said. Though the Suns didn’t deal Durant then, he is widely expected to be traded this offseason. New York remains a potential suitor.
“The Knicks made an offer for Kevin Durant at the NBA trade deadline” – Shams Charania pic.twitter.com/NxVKZNiZKo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 5, 2025
Durant’s age (37) and $50M salary complicate any deal, but Charania added, “There’s gonna be some level of changes to this Knicks roster.” The front office is clearly considering bold moves and seem to have a sense of urgency.
Thibodeau’s firing might symbolize a broader shift in the NBA. As Koreen writes, competitive windows are “closing faster than before,” and if the Knicks believe they’re on the cusp, they’ll act like it. Whether it’s a new coach, a blockbuster trade for Durant, or reconfiguring the organization around Jalen Brunson’s orbit, the Knicks are moving quickly, and seem unhindered by nostalgia.
Go Knicks.