The Knicks' locker room and fans, loyal to Thibodeau: "We are relevant again"

Juan López - 3 Jun 2025 | 22:50
New York Knicks Tom Thibodeau Basket NBA

An outpouring of praise for the coach who was suddenly dismissed after leading New York to the Eastern Finals for the first time in 25 years

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Ben Stiller and Jalen Brunson, fans of Tom Thibodeau.

The dismissal of Tom Thibodeau by the New York Knicks has generated a wave of reactions both within the locker room and among fans and the media. The decision, announced on Tuesday, came just days after the team fell to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals, ending their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years.

One of the first to speak out was Josh Hart. The Knicks' shooting guard quickly took to social media to show his support for the outgoing coach, expressing the appreciation and respect the team felt for him: "Forever grateful, thank you."

Another key figure on the team, Jalen Brunson, had publicly defended Thibodeau after the elimination in the sixth game against Indiana. "Seriously, that question now?", Brunson responded with visible disbelief when asked if he believed Thibodeau was the right person to take the team to the next level. He firmly stated, "Are you asking me if I believe he's the right person? Yes."

The support for Thibodeau was not limited to the players. Ben Stiller, actor and self-proclaimed Knicks fan, also expressed his gratitude towards the coach through social media, emphasizing that "he made the Knicks relevant again":

"I'm a fan of Tom Thibodeau. He resurrected this team. I felt like he gave it his all and always sought to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he took the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are title contenders again. With him, the Knicks became winners again. Thank you, COACH THIBS."

In New York media circles and among many fans, the franchise's decision has been met with skepticism. In five seasons, Thibodeau achieved four playoff appearances, including two consecutive seasons with 50 victories, something the team had not accomplished since the early 90s. Additionally, when he took over the helm, the Knicks had gone seven straight seasons without the playoffs.

However, as was the case in his previous stints in Chicago and Minnesota, his cycle ends with the feeling that the success achieved was not sufficient. Despite his positive record and bringing competitiveness to a historically unstable franchise, the Knicks' leadership opted to chart a new course.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El vestuario y los fans de los Kniks, a muerte con Thibodeau: "Volvimos a ser relevantes"