Collaborated with Spencer Brod
The New York Knicks were a train wreck when Tom Thibodeau took over as head coach in July 2020.
Seven playoff-less years in a row, the lack of an established culture, and an inability to lure star free agents to play for the team headline the circus that was the Knicks in the late-2010s. A risky hire at the time paid massive dividends.
Four playoff appearances in five seasons (including an Eastern Conference finals berth), a strong defensive identity, and a great degree of toughness that former Knicks coaches didn’t offer – Thibodeau revitalized the Knicks.
Thibodeau deserves immense credit for spearheading New York’s turnaround, but it was the correct decision to move on.
Whether it was failing to maximize young talent on the bench or making adjustments far too late. Thibodeau’s coaching in the 2024-25 season left much to be desired.
It’s simple – Leon Rose must look for a coach who maintains Thibodeau’s aggressiveness and passion but willingly utilizes his bench, makes in-game adjustments when necessary, and is a creative play designer.
Below are six potential replacements for Thibodeau, organized in three tiers based on realism and fit.
Tier 1: The Favorites
Jason Kidd:
The most intriguing name on this tier list is Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
Kidd has ten seasons of head coaching experience that began with one year with the Brooklyn Nets, four years with the Milwaukee Bucks, and the last five with the Mavericks.
Kidd has one finals appearance and two fifty-game win seasons. Both came with the Mavericks (2021-22 and 2023-24).
The biggest problem with hiring Kidd is securing an interview with him. The Mavericks could choose to block the Knicks from interviewing Kidd for their vacant position because he is under contract.
Even if the Knicks get the Mavericks’ approval to hire Kidd, they would most likely have to execute a trade.
The Knick Connection:
The reason why the Knicks have interest in Jason Kidd is because of their captain, Jalen Brunson. Kidd coached Jalen Brunson in 2021, and they have a very close relationship despite spending only one season together.
Kidd also played with the Knicks during the 2012-13 season, his final year as an NBA player.
Johnnie Bryant:
After beginning his coaching career as a player development assistant for the Utah Jazz in 2012, Johnnie Bryant became one of Utah’s assistant coaches from 2014 to 2020.
Due to emerging stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, the team punched its ticket to the playoffs four times in six years. He then joined the Knicks as an associate head coach under Thibodeau for four years before being hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the same position in 2024.
The Knick Connection:
Of the main candidates to replace Thibodeau, nobody is more familiar with the current Knicks roster than Johnnie Bryant.
Not only was he in the mix to replace David Fizdale in 2020, but he played a vital role in Brunson’s jump to stardom and Julius Randle’s career revival in 2021.
While he’d likely implement a different coaching philosophy than Thibodeau, New York would look eerily similar in some ways if the same roster is in place.
Tier 2: Don’t Rule It Out
Nate Oats:
Nate Oats has coached at Alabama since 2019, making a huge impact on the organization. He has led Alabama to four NCAA tournament appearances, two SEC championships, and a Final Four appearance in 2024.
The main issue is a college coach adjusting to the NBA, which is why there is no reason to have him as a top-tier candidate. He also has a buyout clause in his contract that states he would owe Alabama nearly $18 million if he left for an NBA job in 2025.
The Knick Connection:
The reason why Oats is a possibility is his strong relationship with Knicks Executive VP and Senior Basketball Advisor William Wesley. “World Wide Wes” has heavy influence with the Knicks front office and is Leon Rose’s “right-hand man.”
Sam Cassell:
Another former player, Cassell, has spent the last 15 years as an assistant coach around the league.
He oversaw the growth of John Wall with the Washington Wizards from 2010 to 2014, witnessed the peak of the “Lob City” LA Clippers from 2014 to 2020, worked under Doc Rivers for three years in Philadelphia, and is currently an assistant coach under Joe Mazzulla for the Boston Celtics.
Despite him not earning a head coach position yet, Cassell’s championship pedigree shouldn’t go unnoticed. The former first-round pick won three titles as a player over 16 years between the Rockets and Celtics and continued to strengthen his coaching reputation with a championship last year in Boston.
Knicks Fit:
With a roster built to win now, many believe it would be optimal for New York to hire someone with previous head coaching experience. However, if the Knicks opt to take the route of hiring a first-time coach, Cassell is a tremendous option.
He’d maximize the second-year talent New York has with Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, and Ariel Hukporti while allowing the Knicks to have a less stagnant offense overall. Additionally, his NBA Finals experience is vital for a squad destined to be on the league’s biggest stage next season.
Tier 3: Unlikely
Micah Nori:
A long-time assistant in the NBA, Micah Nori, has been waiting for his head coaching opportunity. He previously served as an assistant with the Raptors, Kings, Nuggets, and Pistons before his recent tenure with the Timberwolves began in 2021.
Nori is known for taking over the head coaching job in the playoffs after Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch ruptured his patellar tendon after a sideline collision.
Nori led the T-Wolves to the Western Conference Finals, beating the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, in seven games. The Timberwolves would eventually lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals in five games to end their season.
The Knick Connection:
Since Nori has been with Minnesota since 2021, he crossed paths with the Knicks’ All-NBA center, Karl-Anthony Towns. Nori is very popular among the players he has coached and has formed great relationships around the league, this includes Towns.
John Calipari:
It is a long shot but would be fun.
John Calipari is still a name to watch for the next Knicks coaching gig. Similar to Thibodeau, it’s pretty clear Calipari’s entire life revolves around basketball. Four years as a player between UNC Wilmington and Marion, 39 as a collegiate coach, and four as an NBA one attest to his passion for the sport.
The Knick Connection:
Calipari has ties to Towns, coaching him for a year while at Kentucky. Calipari also has a great relationship with Knicks President Leon Rose, which spans decades.
He was a strong supporter of Rose’s hiring in 2020, so he would make sense if the Knicks decided to consider a college coach.
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