The New York Knicks’ decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau, who still had three years and more than $35 million remaining on his contract, came just days after the team was eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The firing, which surprised many across the league, has drawn strong criticism from Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
Speaking on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, Lue said, “Should he have been fired? Hell no. I mean, it’s the first time they’ve been to the conference finals in 25 years. Twenty-five years! And so, the city was on fire, the fans were on fire. The players did a hell of a job. And Thibs did a hell of a job. And to take a team to their first [conference finals] in 25 years and then get fired, like, it just doesn’t make sense.”
The Knicks did not provide a detailed reason for the dismissal beyond a statement from team president Leon Rose that began, “Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship.”
- Tyronn Lue believes Tom Thibodeau’s firing after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals was unfair and “made no sense.”
- Thibodeau led the Knicks to their best run in 25 years, finishing with a 226-174 record over five seasons, but was still dismissed.
- The Knicks replaced him with Mike Brown, raising the pressure for immediate Finals success.
Indiana’s Surprising Playoff Surge Added Context
New York’s run ended against Indiana, a team that advanced to the Finals after also defeating Doc Rivers’ Milwaukee Bucks and Kenny Atkinson’s Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pacers ultimately lost in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffering an Achilles injury in Game 7.
Lue rejected the suggestion that losing to Indiana justified Thibodeau’s dismissal, asking, “So everybody that Indiana beat, you want to fire their coach? It doesn’t make sense.”
Knicks Replace Thibodeau With Mike Brown
The Knicks appointed Mike Brown, former Sacramento Kings coach and two-time Coach of the Year, as Thibodeau’s replacement. Lue suggested the move creates a difficult situation for Brown. He compared it to his own first coaching experience in 2016, when he took over the Cleveland Cavaliers after they had reached the Finals the previous year.
“That’s a tough spot to be in,” Lue said. He explained that the Cavaliers at that time had the advantage of a prime LeBron James, something the Knicks do not.
Lue Defends Thibodeau’s Coaching Style
Thibodeau was often criticized for his reputation for giving heavy minutes to players. Lue dismissed those critiques, saying, “Whatever it takes. Do whatever it takes to win. You don’t want guys to practice, now you don’t want guys to play? They already get games off, but you don’t want them to play minutes either?”
Lue, who hired Jeff Van Gundy, a longtime friend of Thibodeau, as an assistant coach with the Clippers, also defended Thibodeau’s career record. “Like I said, I thought Thibs did a great job. But you never know the inside of what’s going on with the organization. But everywhere he’s been, he wins. Everywhere. Chicago, Minnesota, Knicks, every team he’s been on has gotten better, you know? And to do that, I thought it was crazy.”
Thibodeau’s Record With the Knicks
Thibodeau was hired by the Knicks in 2020. Over five seasons, he compiled a record of 226 wins and 174 losses. His teams reached the playoffs in four of those five years and delivered back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since the 1990s. Last season, the Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.
In the 2024–25 postseason, the Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons in six games in the first round, eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics in six games in the second round, and then lost to Indiana in six games in the Conference Finals.
Despite the progress, rumors circulated that the Knicks would dismiss Thibodeau. Those rumors proved true when the front office fired him in June and replaced him with Brown.
Knicks’ Betting Outlook After Coaching Change and Playoff Run
Oddsmakers adjusted quickly to the Knicks’ playoff performance and coaching change. At DraftKings, the Knicks’ championship odds moved from +1400 on May 13 to +800 by June 3, the same day Thibodeau was fired. Since then, they have settled among the league’s top tier, listed at +750 at BetMGM, +800 at ESPN BET, and +850 at FanDuel.
For the Eastern Conference, New York has been priced at +260 by BetMGM, +270 by ESPN BET, and +280 by FanDuel. Within the Atlantic Division, BetRivers placed the Knicks at -225.
Win totals vary slightly: DraftKings has set the line at 52.5, while BetMGM lists 53.5.
In individual markets, Jalen Brunson’s odds to win MVP have ranged from +3000 at BetMGM to +6000 on other boards, while his Finals MVP odds are around +1100. According to BetMGM data, the Knicks have accounted for 12.7% of NBA title futures betting handle, behind only the Lakers and Warriors.
