The New York Knicks have struck out on their top three choices to replace Tom Thibodeau as their head coach.
On Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks firmly rejected the Knicks’ request to interview their reported top choice, Jason Kidd, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. It was the third straight strike for the Knicks after their requests for the two other active NBA coaches were also shut down.
“The New York Knicks requested permission Wednesday morning to speak to Mavericks coach Jason Kidd – and Dallas gave a firm rejection, sources tell ESPN. Knicks have been denied now on Kidd, Minnesota’s Chris Finch and Houston’s Ime Udoka,” Charania wrote on X.
Jason Kidd in Good Spot
Getty Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd is drawing interest from the New York Knicks amid the shocking firing of Tom Thibodeau.
If the Knicks’ permission was granted, it would take a massive offer to lure Kidd out of Dallas. Kidd has two years left on his Mavericks deal.
Kidd is currently tied with Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse for seventh with an $8.5 million annual salary, according to Front Office Sports. Thibodeau was among the fourth-highest-paid coaches in the NBA, averaging $11 million annually before his firing. He had a $30 million-plus guaranteed money after signing a three-year extension last year.
Kidd is in a good spot in Dallas even after the Mavericks traded away Luka Doncic. He is set to coach presumptive No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg out of Duke, alongside Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving (when he returns from his ACL injury) in a team that is expected to contend for a championship.
The Knicks are also eyeing to contend, which they made it clear when they fired Thibodeau.
“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction,” said Knicks President Leon Rose in a statement released on X.
Knicks to Turn to Free Agent Coaches?
Where the Knicks’ coaching search goes from here will draw much intrigue.
After their initial plan of poaching an active NBA coach, they may turn their eyes to the free agent coaches who have a championship resume.
That short list is headed by Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the title two years ago. The other two big names who have won NBA championships are Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel, who were hired and fired by the Phoenix Suns in consecutive seasons.
Other notable free agent coaches with previous head coaching experience in the playoffs are Taylor Jenkins, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies; Mike Brown, formerly of the Sacramento Kings; James Borrego, formerly of the Charlotte Hornets; and Steve Nash, formerly of the Brooklyn Nets.
Big Shoes to Fill
Getty The New York Knicks have fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after five seasons.
Whoever the Knicks hire as their next coach will have the unfortunate tag as their fourth choice and the pressure to deliver a championship after Thibodeau set a high bar.
Thibodeau, 67, left the Knicks as their fourth all-time winningest coach with 226 wins, trailing only Jeff Van Gundy (248), Joe Lapchick (326) and two-time champion coach Red Holzman (613). The Knicks made the playoffs in four of Thibodeau’s five years at the helm.
Thibodeau is also the first coach to guide the Knicks to consecutive 50-win seasons since Pat Riley in the 1994-95 season. He instilled accountability and built a winning culture that ended an eight-year playoff drought in his first season as the head coach and peaked with their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years.
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