Tom Thibodeau made it through the 2021-22 season unscathed, and not only that but he’s expected to be back for 2022-23.
That may not be what New York Knicks fans want to hear. Those same fans may also not want to know that according to reports, there were people in the front office who wanted the coach gone during the All-Star break (but he clearly stayed).
At that point in the year, the Knicks had lost three straight games, with their most recent loss coming against their crosstown rival. Entering the much-needed break on a 3-13 skid, morale wasn’t high within the fanbase or the front office (apparently).
New York Post’s Marc Berman reported that heading into the break, “at least two members of the front office recommended Tom Thibodeau be let go.”
This isn’t necessarily a surprise, considering that it was just last week when The Athletic’s Fred Katz spoke on a podcast and said that there are people within the organization who aren’t Thibodeau’s allies.
Leon Rose’s opinion is the most important and it’s because of him that Thibodeau is coming back for his third season as New York’s head coach.
Was New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau close to being fired?
Those in the front office who didn’t believe in Thibodeau were concerned about the direction that the team was headed in.
"“Front-office members thought Thibodeau had, as one source put it, “lost the team.” They didn’t like some of the body language and attentiveness during timeout huddles.”"
If the Knicks had a different team president other than Rose, perhaps Thibodeau’s job wouldn’t be safe.
"“According to the source, Knicks president Leon Rose was dead-set against letting Thibodeau go in his second season and the Knicks coach survived February’s pause.”"
The two have a history that dates back to when Rose was Thibodeau’s CAA agent. After Rose was hired in 2020, it was reported that he was “very close” with Thibodeau, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mark Jackson. Guess who was hired shortly after that?
On the final day of the 2021-22 regular season, Rose was interviewed by MSG Network’s Mike Breen. He reaffirmed his belief in Thibodeau and even referred to him as one of the top coaches in the NBA. That seems a bit steep.
Thibodeau won Coach of the Year in 2020-21 after he helped to lead the Knicks back to the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13. New York finished in fourth place in the East with a 41-31 record. This season, the team ended the year in 11th place with a 37-45 record.
All signs are pointing towards the 64-year-old leading the Knicks for another season However, given New York’s promising young core, if New York has yet another disappointing year, there won’t be a valid excuse for why Thibodeau shouldn’t be on the way out.
NY Knicks: 3 adjustments Tom Thibodeau failed to make in 2021-22
With 2021-22 coming to a close for the New York Knicks, here are 3 adjustments that head coach Tom Thibodeau failed to make.