Tom Thibodeau’s Unshakable Habits Spark Controversy Yet Again—Is History Doomed to Repeat?

Well, the New York Knicks’ headline-making move to part ways with Tom Thibodeau after five seasons feels like a seismic shift in the franchise’s narrative. After a hard-fought Eastern Conference finals run that ended in six games against the Pacers, the once firmly planted coach is out the door — a decision that’s rattled fans and insiders alike. Thibodeau’s defense-first mindset and, frankly, his notorious habit of burning out his starters by clocking insane minutes finally caught up with him. Yet, this isn’t solely on the man in the coach’s chair; the Knicks’ shallow bench and front office’s patchy roster decisions play a significant role in this unraveling. As the team charts its course toward a championship horizon it hasn’t seen since the Nixon era, all eyes now turn to who will step into the breach— a coach capable of digging deeper into that thin roster, amplifying the impact of underutilized players, and unlocking untapped offensive potential, especially from Karl-Anthony Towns. The road ahead? It’s steep and winding, but also ripe with promise, as the Knicks prepare to redefine their identity one savvy hire at a time. LEARN MORE

So, which qualities should a new coach have?

As such, criticism has to spill over to management as well, even if its initial investment in OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns — all acquired within a seven-month period — was the first step of a larger plan.Advertisement

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(Don’t worry, Generation Alpha, you’ll learn about the ’70s in high school.)Advertisement