Tom Thibodeau
The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau, they announced.
New York is the first team coming off a conference-finals appearance to fire its coach for basketball reasons since the Grizzlies fired Lionel Hollins in 2013. Memphis hasn't been back since.
Before that, the Pistons were the last team, with Flip Saunders in 2008. Detroit hasn't been back since, either.
Teams to fire their coach coming off a conference-finals appearance:
2025 NYK: Tom Thibodeau
2022 BOS: Ime Udoka
2013 MEM: Lionel Hollins
2008 DET: Flip Saunders
2005 DET: Larry Brown
2004 LAL: Phil Jackson
2003 DET: Rick Carlisle
1998 CHI: Phil Jackson
1989 CHI: Doug Collins
1971 LAL: Joe Mullaney
Though some coaches on the list technically resigned or didn't have their contract renewed, I count it as a firing if they weren't welcome back.
Tom Thibodeau
To reach the conference finals, the Knicks pulled an all-time upset of the Celtics in the second round. New York's implied odds entering the series were just 15%.
That makes Tom Thibodeau the first coach on record fired coming off a playoff run that included an upset with even sub-20% implied odds.
In fact, Thibodeau is just the sixth coach on record fired following a series upset at all.
Coaches fired following a postseason with a series upset on record (all series since 2001, nearly all series since 1988, some series prior), via Sports Odds History:
2025 NYK: Tom Thibodeau – over BOS in second round (15%)
2013 MEM: Lionel Hollins — over LAC in first round (37%)
2005 DET: Larry Brown — over MIA in conference finals (46%)
2004 LAL: Phil Jackson — over SAS in second round (44%)
2003 DET: Rick Carlisle — over PHI in second round (42%)
1989 CHI: Doug Collins — over CLE in first round (21%), over NYK in second round (23%)
Pretty wild Doug Collins got fired after pulling TWO upsets then losing to the eventual-champion Pistons. But the Bulls obviously don't regret giving the keys to Phil Jackson.
Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau indisputably did a great job with the Knicks. He won Coach of the Year in 2021 for helping New York end its seven-year playoff drought. In 2023, he helped the Knicks win a playoff series for the first time in a decade. This year, he guided New York to its first conference finals since 2000.
But there's a simple case for firing him: What alternate move would have given the Knicks a better chance of succeeding?
As many different tactics as he showed in these playoffs, Thibodeau has not changed his overall approach. New York's offense too often lacked creativity. Its defense wasn't even good. The Knicks are clearly talented. Maybe another coach could unlock a higher level.
Firing Thibodeau lowers the Knicks' floor, but they're clearly chasing a higher ceiling. That's a reasonable tradeoff.
That said, this is also an era of parity and randomness. There's more value than before in remaining in contention year after year, hoping the right breaks eventually hit. The Knicks staying the course, continuing to hone their chemistry would've also been reasonable.
James Dolan
James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic after the Knicks got eliminated:
"The coach has the backing of team president Leon Rose, league sources said, as well as full buy-in from Brunson, who signed with the Knicks in 2022 in part because he wanted to play for Thibodeau. But ultimately, owner James Dolan is the final decision-maker."
Did James Dolan overrule Leon Rose and fire Tom Thibodeau?
The Knicks' uncoincidentally have had this recent rare run of success with Dolan less involved. This would be an unwelcomed return of his heavy hand.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Knicks players and coaches were frustrated with Karl-Anthony Towns' defensive habits, and after he repeatedly failed to explain his errors, they worried he "didn’t grasp the importance of the matter," according to James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic.
The latter is so much more damning.
Towns is incredibly talented, but his team being concerned with his approach to the game has become an annual occurrence.
In 2022, the Timberwolves traded for Rudy Gobert to be their defensive anchor. In 2023, they made clear Anthony Edwards had surpassed Towns as their franchise player. In 2024, they traded Towns to New York.
Now, the Knicks must figure out what to do with him.
Giannis Antetokounmpo-Raptors
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Raptors share mutual interest, according to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.
Toronto has long been linked to Antetokounmpo, reportedly lining up to pursue him in 2021 free agency (before he signed an extension with Milwaukee). Antetokounmpo has a connection with Raptors president Masai Ujiri.
Given the backlash to Kevin Durant joining the Warriors, superstars might be reluctant to join a team seen as too loaded. That won't be a problem with Toronto. Antetokounmpo could leave a descending team for an ascending one, though.
The Raptors have all their own future first-round picks (including No. 9 this year), Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Gradey Dick. Those players could be useful for matching salary and providing the Bucks value, as they're out their own future picks and therefore not positioned to tank. Toronto could use whichever assets remain to build around Antetokounmpo.
This is a longshot. Remember, there's a report Antetokounmpo will remain in Milwaukee. If he decides to leave, there will be numerous other suitors.
But there's at least a case on paper for Toronto as Antetokounmpo's destination.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns have narrowed their head-coaching search to Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and assistant Jordan Ott, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Do I believe Suns owner Mat Ishbia is prioritizing weakening the team of his Michigan-based mortgage-company archrival, Dan Gilbert? I guess not.
Am I certain? No.
Austin Ainge
Sometimes, team personnel deny tanking by using an extreme definition of tanking – players on the court deliberately trying to lose – while ignoring other strategies, like intentionally playing lesser players.
Asked directly about "tanking or manipulating minutes and player performance in order to achieve better lottery odds," new Jazz president Austin Ainge:
"You won't see that this year."
Just going to file that away.
NBA Finals
Fun article from Kevin Pelton and Tim Bontemps of ESPN ranking the top 20 players in the NBA Finals. The Thunder having No. 1 and four of the top six seems telling, even if you could quibble on the order of No. 3 and No. 4.
-Dan Feldman