The New York Knicks dismissed head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, three days after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who also heads the National Basketball Coaches Association, expressed surprise at the decision, initially thinking the news was 'fake AI' given Thibodeau's accomplishments with the Knicks. The Knicks are now searching for a new coach, with Dan Hurley reportedly not interested and Jordan Ott expected to be named head coach for the Phoenix Suns.
Pacers' Rick Carlisle shares candid reaction after Knicks dismiss Tom Thibodeau: 'Thought it was fake AI'
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AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The New York Knicks dismissed head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, three days after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who also heads the National Basketball Coaches Association, expressed surprise at the decision, initially thinking the news was 'fake AI' given Thibodeau's accomplishments with the Knicks. The Knicks are now searching for a new coach, with Dan Hurley reportedly not interested and Jordan Ott expected to be named head coach for the Phoenix Suns.
Trending- 1 New York Knicks lose to Indiana Pacers in Eastern Conference finals.
- 2 Three days later (Tuesday): New York Knicks dismiss coach Tom Thibodeau.
- 3 Wednesday: Pacers coach Rick Carlisle reacts to the news, expressing surprise.
- 4 Knicks begin search for new head coach.
- 5 ESPN reports Phoenix Suns intend to name Jordan Ott as head coach.
- New York Knicks begin search for a new head coach
- Coaching changes for other NBA teams (Phoenix Suns)
What: The New York Knicks dismissed their head coach, Tom Thibodeau.
When: Tuesday (three days after playoff exit, published 2025-06-05, so likely June 3, 2025).
Where: New York (Knicks organization), Indiana (Pacers organization), Phoenix (Suns organization), Hartford (Dan Hurley's location).
Why: The Knicks moved on from Thibodeau after their playoff exit, despite having advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000. The article doesn't explicitly state the Knicks' reason, but it's implied to be a post-season organizational decision.
How: The Knicks announced the dismissal.