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3 Candidates to Replace Tom Thibodeau as Knicks Head Coach
The New York Knicks’ Head Coach Position Is Open, and Fans Can’t Wait to See Who Gets the Job
Who’s Next?
In NBA news that may not come as a surprise, the New York Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau. He lasted five seasons, leading the Knicks to four playoff appearances and their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years before they were eliminated by the Pacers for the second year in a row.
It’s a high-profile job in New York, the Knicks’ roster has a solid nucleus, and someone is going to have to find a way to deal with the Knicks vs. Pacers rivalry and those battles with Boston if this team is ever going to get back to the NBA Finals.
NBA rumors are already swirling about Thibodeau’s potential replacement, but here are three good candidates to consider, as you have to think the Knicks will favor someone with experience over a bold first-time coaching hire.
Michael Malone
Fired by the Denver Nuggets late in the season, Michael Malone has to be a top name on any head coaching search for NBA teams this year. While he enjoyed the privilege of winning NBA games with a 3-time MVP in Nikola Jokic, Malone has been through deep playoff runs and won a championship in 2023.
.@WindhorstESPN says the New York Knicks’ vacant head coach position is “one of the more interesting jobs you’re ever gonna see.”
He also mentioned names like Mike Brown, Michael Malone, Taylor Jenkins, Jeff Van Gundy and Jay Wright as possible candidates 👀 pic.twitter.com/CtIJYvuMPv
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 4, 2025
While Malone had Jokic under his watch, Denver did a good job of developing home-grown talent to help this team win consistently, to be a contender rather than just shipping in free agents to build a “Big 3” like teams tend to do.
He’s an intense coach, and he kept the team together through tough times. His firing was probably a premature and regrettable decision by the Nuggets, and a team like the Knicks should be happy to scoop him up to replace Thibodeau.
Jay Wright
The coaching world is all about connections. While 63 may be an old age to start your NBA coaching career, Jay Wright has nothing better to do since he stepped away as the head coach of the Villanova Wildcats, where he reached four Final Fours and won two national championships in 2016 and 2018.
Jay Wright said the greatest trait a person can have isn’t talent, toughness, or intelligence.
“It’s attitude.”
It’s a choice – every single day.
A negative attitude will steal your energy, progress, and joy.
6 Mindset Shifts to Help You Eliminate Negativity:🧵 pic.twitter.com/GzHNeB3unE
— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) May 22, 2025
Wright also won those titles on teams that featured current Knicks like Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges. The “Nova Knicks” nickname exists for good reason, and it would be a cool story for a college coach to reunite with professional players to try to recreate their best success in the NBA. There’s certainly chemistry there, and he might even find ways to use Karl-Anthony Towns better.
Wright has also done media work when he hasn’t been coaching, and he was a big-time coach for two decades in the Big East. He can handle the New York media and spotlight just fine as a known commodity in basketball circles.
Taylor Jenkins
Similar to Michael Malone, Taylor Jenkins was let go by the Grizzlies late in the season, even though the team was on track for a 50-win playoff appearance. Jenkins is only 40, has a playoff series win, and he’s had two 50-win seasons in Memphis.
What a YEAR to be a COACH in the NBA
Taylor Jenkins-Fired in March (40+ wins and multiple playoff appearances)
Mike Malone-Fired in April (Championship and winning team)
Tom Thibodeau-Fired Today (51 wins and ECF appearance) pic.twitter.com/4Q7yOZ5KxF
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) June 3, 2025
He doesn’t have the high-profile wins against good teams like Malone, but he’s a solid coach. He may have lost the locker room in Memphis, but Ja Morant is a very immature superstar player. The Knicks don’t have that issue with Brunson and a veteran team.
