Tom Thibodeau cannot be happy after he was fired by the New York Knicks following a deep postseason run that exceeded expectations, but the coach is handling the controversial decision with grace.
Thibodeau took out a full-page ad in the New York Times on Wednesday thanking Knicks players, his coaching staff and fans for their support over the last five seasons.
While he included “everyone who makes this franchise special” as part of his acknowledgement, Thibodeau notably excluded owner James Dolan and other members of the team’s front office.
“To the best city in the world with the best fans in the world: Thank you.
“When I was hired in 2020, I said this was my dream job. I am grateful that dream became a reality. Thank you to our players and coaching staff who gave everything they had, and to everyone who makes this franchise special. I am proud of everything we accomplished together, including four playoff appearances and this year’s run to the Eastern Conference finals — our first in 25 years.
“And to the fans, thank you for believing in me and embracing me from day one. Watching you support our team, and seeing the Garden ignite with that incomparable Knicks energy, is something I will never forget.”
Classy move from Tom Thibodeau to place this ad in today’s New York Times. pic.twitter.com/pWATlweqx1
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) June 11, 2025
Thibodeau included in his message that this year’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals was the first for the Knicks in 25 years. Between that and the team winning 50 or more games in each of the last two seasons, many people were stunned that the team decided to go in a different direction.
Some new details have since emerged about why the Knicks fired Thibodeau, but the 67-year-old undoubtedly feels he deserved to keep his job. Many of his peers feel the same way.
Thibodeau could have skipped taking out a full-page ad and no one would have blamed him, so the decision reflects well on the longtime coach.
