The New York Knicks job is suddenly open.
The Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday after what was an overwhelmingly successful stint with the franchise that brought them back to the forefront of the NBA world. The decision came just days after the Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, which was the team’s first appearance in that round since 2000.
With one of the most coveted jobs in the league now available, who will take Thibodeau’s place? Here’s a look at some initial candidates for the Knicks.
Top Tier: Malone, Wright, Brown, Bryant
Michael Malone
Last job: Denver Nuggets head coach
Michael Malone should absolutely get a look here, considering what he built in Denver in recent years. Malone led the Nuggets to an NBA title just two years ago while turning the franchise into a powerhouse in the Western Conference. The team even made it to the semifinals after firing Malone before their postseason run. He’s like Thibodeau in a lot of ways, just more successful, and the Nuggets’ roster he was working with was built around a star guard-center duo. That sounds like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Malone could, at least on paper, step in and keep this Knicks team on the same trajectory. He should get the job here, but he won’t be out of work long. If the Knicks don’t scoop him up, somebody else will.
Jay Wright
Last job: Villanova head coach
To be clear, this only works if Jay Wright wants to come out of retirement. He stepped back from coaching in 2022 after spending more than two decades at Villanova, where he won two national championships and reached the Final Four four different times. But Wright’s connections to the Knicks are massive. Two of the Wildcats’ national championships came with Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges on his roster, and Josh Hart was on one of them, too. He’s already proven he can lead that trio to a title. Why would that be any different now?
But again, Wright’s desire for the job has to be there. And, well …
He’d have to come out of retirement, but Jay Wright’s connections with the Knicks are strong. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
(Jamie Schwaberow via Getty Images)
Mike Brown
Last job: Sacramento Kings head coach
Like Malone, Mike Brown was seemingly fired prematurely when the Sacramento Kings parted with him earlier this season. Plenty of coaches came to his defense in the wake of that firing, too. Brown led the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 17 seasons in his first campaign with the franchise, but they failed to make it in the last two. Brown also got the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, and he helped Steve Kerr as an assistant during the peak of the Golden State Warriors’ run. Brown will be working again as a head coach in the near future, and the Knicks should absolutely reach out.
Johnnie Bryant
Last job: Cleveland Cavaliers assistant
Johnnie Bryant is already a finalist for the open job in Phoenix, and he spent four seasons on staff with the Knicks before landing his current spot with the Cavaliers. He may not be an “upgrade” from Thibodeau on paper, as he’s never been a head coach in the league, but Bryant appears to be ready to make the jump. If the Knicks want to go this route, and they can beat out the Suns, Bryant would be a tremendous hire.
Mid Tier: Jenkins, Budenholzer, Vogel, Cassell
Taylor Jenkins
Last job: Memphis Grizzlies head coach
Taylor Jenkins was great in Memphis (when the team was healthy), and he’s one of the best head coaches still on the market. He’s known for running a faster offense and developing younger rosters, neither of which the Knicks have at this point, but there’s no doubt that Jenkins can still coach. He’d be a true change to the Knicks culture, which may not be a bad thing.
Mike Budenholzer
Last job: Phoenix Suns head coach
Mike Budenholzer got only a single season in Phoenix, so it’s easy to forget that he won an NBA title in the last half-decade. The two-time coach of the year wouldn’t be a bad hire, even with how badly things went for him with the Suns.
Frank Vogel
Last job: Phoenix Suns head coach
Like Budenholzer, Frank Vogel got only a single season leading the Suns before he was fired. That came after a very short run with the Los Angeles Lakers, too, though he and LeBron James won a championship there early on. If Bud is going to get a look, Vogel probably should, too.
Sam Cassell
Last job: Boston Celtics assistant
Sam Cassell has been quickly climbing as an assistant in the league in recent years. He’s been the top guy both in Philadelphia and in Boston, and it feels like he’ll be a head coach in the NBA in the near future. If the Knicks want a first-time head coach, and Bryant isn’t the move, Cassell could be it.
The long shots: Hurley, Van Gundy, Calipari, Pitino
Dan Hurley
Last job: UConn head coach
Dan Hurley has flirted with NBA jobs in the past, most recently with the Lakers, but he’s been great at UConn. He’s won two national championships in the past three seasons, after all. If he’s open to it, Hurley may not be a bad idea. But, for several reasons, tread lightly here.
Jeff Van Gundy
Last job: Los Angeles Clippers assistant
Of all the coaches in this section, Jeff Van Gundy is probably the most likely to land the job. The longtime coach left ESPN and got back into coaching this past season as an assistant with the Clippers. He also spent 14 seasons on staff with the Knicks, half of which as the head coach, and he was the last coach to get the franchise to the NBA Finals. Why not bring him back?
John Calipari
Last job: Arkansas head coach
John Calipari has coached in the league before, and he has plenty of connections in the basketball world. But just one year into his tenure at Arkansas, a jump back to the NBA probably isn’t very likely.
Rick Pitino
Last job: St. John’s head coach
Rick Pitino spent two seasons as the Knicks’ head coach in the 1980s, and he’s revived his career at St. John’s after the Louisville fallout. This wouldn’t be a long-term move, but Pitino is just right across the river in Queens.
Rick Pitino just finished his second season at St. John’s. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
(Maddie Meyer via Getty Images)
The other long shot: Metta World Peace
This isn’t even a long shot. It’s not going to happen.
But that’s not stopping the longtime former NBA player and brief Knicks forward once known as Ron Artest from advocating for himself.
You can’t get it if you don’t ask, right?
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