The Tom Thibodeau era in New York may be over, but the aftershocks of his firing are still reverberating around the league — and apparently, back in Boston.
Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday that the New York Knicks quietly explored the possibility of hiring Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla to replace Thibodeau before eventually landing on two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown.
Knicks Quietly Targeted Celtics Coach in Offseason Search
Getty Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics hugs Kristaps Porzingis before the opening tipoff against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
“Yet it has also been whispered that the Knicks likely did some backchannel exploration to determine if there was any pathway to pursue Boston’s Joe Mazzulla,” Stein wrote in his latest The Stein Line Substack column. “There obviously was not … and then the Celtics extended Mazzulla’s contract in August.”
According to Stein, the Knicks initially attempted to contact five employed head coaches during their coaching search, including the early favorite, Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, but were rebuffed by every team.
Unable to secure permission to speak to Mazzulla, the Knicks turned their attention to Brown, whose tenure started with a 4-1 record in preseason.
Thibodeau Resurfaces in Boston After Knicks Firing
Adding intrigue to the situation, Thibodeau — fired by the Knicks in June despite leading them to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years — was spotted in Boston this week, sitting in on a Celtics practice and film session.
His visit stirred attention after Celtics star Jaylen Brown revealed that Thibodeau didn’t just observe — he shared scouting insights that helped the Knicks defeat Boston in last year’s conference semifinals.
“I think that was awesome having Thibs,” Brown said. “Obviously, they eliminated us last year, so him being able to give us some of the thoughts that he saw in that series and some of the stuff that they broke down in our personnel — or even our team — helps us grow and learn from that.”
Jaylen Brown: ‘Thibs Helped Us Grow’
Brown added that Thibodeau went beyond observation, joining film sessions with him, Jayson Tatum, and Mazzulla to discuss strategy and game planning.
“He was breaking down some film and stuff like that, talking to Joe,” Brown said. “From a team perspective and from a top-down perspective — what he wanted to do with me and Jayson, what he wanted to do when the ball was in my hands. It allows you to grow if you’re humble enough to listen.”
Knicks Still Paying Thibodeau $30 Million
Ironically, the Knicks are still on the hook for Thibodeau’s salary. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the veteran coach is owed at least $30 million guaranteed from the multi-year extension he signed before being dismissed.
“Worth noting: Knicks owe Tom Thibodeau at least $30 million guaranteed on his recently signed extension,” Begley reported in June. “Also worth noting: NYK won a playoff series in three straight years under Thibodeau — from 2001 to 2020, they won just one series. He built a winning foundation here.”
From Boston Roots to New York Fallout
Thibodeau’s visit to Boston carried symbolic weight. He was Doc Rivers’ lead assistant and defensive coordinator when the Celtics won the 2008 NBA championship with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen — a title that helped launch his successful head-coaching career.
The 67-year-old coach’s tenure with the Knicks ended in controversy despite undeniable success. He ranks fourth all-time in franchise victories (226) and became the first Knicks coach since Pat Riley (1994–95) to deliver back-to-back 50-win seasons.
Mazzulla Welcomes Thibs Back to Boston
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had nothing but praise for his former mentor.
“He won a championship here — just having him around makes me better, makes our organization better,” Mazzulla said. “It’s a lot of respect for him.”
The sight of Thibodeau sharing insights with the team that just eliminated his Knicks adds yet another layer to one of the East’s most fascinating rivalries. While the Knicks move forward with Mike Brown, their former coach may have already helped make the Celtics even tougher to beat next time around.
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