The Knicks’ choice to let go of Tom Thibodeau didn’t take the players by surprise. They understood that when teams face a shortage of success, changes are often inevitable.
“We had a solid year. It didn’t wrap up the way we hoped,” one player reflected during a podcast, mentioning that changes might happen when seasons don’t go as expected. “When you don’t end the season on a high note, coaches or players are often moved. Tibbs was, after all, the sixth coach in eight years.”
The coaching situation in the NBA is notoriously tough—when outcomes aren’t what teams want, changes occur. Aside from a brief post on social media, the players only remarked positively on Thibodeau’s influence in his time with the team.
Branson, who has known Thibodeau for most of his life, reminisced about his father’s stint with the Knicks when Thibodeau was an assistant coach. His father, Rick Branson, also had a coaching role under Thibodeau with the Bulls and Timberwolves before returning to the Knicks.
Thibodeau literally witnessed Branson grow up.
Following the Knicks’ elimination by the Pacers, Branson was vocal about whether Thibodeau was the right leader for the future. “Is that the question? You’re asking if I think he’s the right guy? Yes, of course,” he responded earnestly.
Branson’s journey from a role player with the Mavericks to a star player with the Knicks can be attributed to Thibodeau’s guidance.
“This was the first time I saw someone get fired,” Branson shared. “I’ve known him well and had impactful conversations with him since middle school. He believed in me more than anyone else.” He expressed deep gratitude for what Thibodeau had done for his career.
Hart, who had also transitioned from a journeyman to a key player under Thibodeau, voiced his support for the coach. “The makeup of the team has clearly shifted without Tib. Personally, I wanted to thank him. He played a big role in my development, especially in the earlier, uncertain phases of my career.”
“This is the hard part of the NBA; it’s not just about what happens on the court but also the personal connections,” Hart added, noting the difficulty of changes in coaching staff.
Thibodeau’s leadership saw the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. He led the team to the playoffs in four out of five seasons, steadily improving their performance.
“People have their opinions about various aspects of the season’s end, but during tough times, he did his job,” Hart commented. “He stayed for five years, leading the team to playoffs four times and helping bring Knicks basketball back into the spotlight.”
“I agree,” Branson added, emphatically.
