New York Knicks: Ranking the 6 head coaches of the 2010s

3. Jeff Hornacek (60-104)

Between Fisher and Fizdale, Jeff Hornacek signed on as New York Knicks head coach from 2016-18. It wasn’t exactly memorable, but this team showed signs of being competitive for part of his tenure.

The 2016-17 team had a healthy Carmelo Anthony, a rising Kristaps Porzingis and competent surrounding pieces in Courtney Lee and Justin Holiday. This was not a playoff team, but hardly the NBA’s worst group. However, Hornacek was forced to run the triangle, which never found its rhythm after Phil Jackson’s implementation in 2014.

Not only that obstacle, but Hornacek dealt with Derrick Rose‘s disappearance from the team and an injured, underperforming Joakim Noah, whose free-agent contract quickly became regrettable.

By 2017-18, the odds stacked against Hornacek. He dealt with the fallout of the Anthony trade, Noah’s off-court antics, Porzingis’ torn ACL and a lingering dismissal since the Steve Mills-Scott Perry regime replaced Jackson in the front office.

Before Porzingis’ Knicks-ending injury, Hornacek’s team had 23 wins and a chance at being a fringe playoff team. They won just six games afterward, finishing with a 29-53 record.

There was potential for Hornacek with the Knicks, but not making the playoffs and the awful finish to 2017-18 was his demise.