The New York Knicks have reportedly hired Tom Thibodeau to become the franchise’s new head coach. It was the right move.
The New York Knicks have been without a full-time head coach since David Fizdale was relieved of his duties on December 6, 2019. Over the course of the near eight months that have followed, drastic changes have been made to the organization.
Steve Mills was replaced by Leon Rose as team president, Marcus Morris was traded for multiple draft picks, and the Knicks went 17-25 after starting the season at 4-20.
As the Knicks embraced the youth movement, found a new lead executive, and began to play winning basketball, questions inevitably grew louder about the head coaching position. Mike Miller did an excellent job with the interim title, but the full-time job was still up for grabs.
On Saturday, July 25, 2020, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Knicks are finally concluding the coaching search by finalizing a five-year deal with Tom Thibodeau.
The New York Knicks and Tom Thibodeau are finalizing a five-year deal to make him the franchise’s next coach, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 25, 2020
Thibodeau, who has been steadily coaching in the NBA since 1989, is the first head coach of the Leon Rose era.
Thibodeau is one of the most recognizable names in coaching, but he’s also a polarizing figure. He’s an undeniable winner in the NBA, but he also has knocks against him as far as how willing he is to modernize his approach to the game.
After spending the past year studying the coaching techniques of the sharpest minds around the basketball world, however, Thibodeau is returning to the NBA.
Despite the admittedly rational concerns, New York Knicks fans should be excited.