Tom Thibodeau didn’t want to lose his job coaching the New York Knicks, but he still has nothing but love for the city and the fans who supported him.
On Wednesday morning, Thibodeau placed an ad in the New York Times and sent a special message to loyal Knicks fans.
“To the best city in the world with the best fans in the world: Thank you,” Thibodeau wrote, via Frank Isola.
“When I was hired in 2020, I said this was my dream job. I am grateful that dreams 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,” Thibodeau said.
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
Like many fans, Thibodeau is surely still in shock about his surprising firing.
Even though the Knicks weren’t perfect, most people assumed he would remain in the coaching seat next year.
Instead, the Knicks decided to part ways with Thibodeau and still haven’t announced a replacement.
After five seasons and a 226-174 record, Thibodeau is moving on to his next endeavor.
He has worked for multiple NBA teams, and it’s possible that he will find another home in the league soon.
As for the Knicks, they are still hard at work trying to find someone new to lead them, but their search isn’t going smoothly.
Will this move to dump Thibodeau look like a huge mistake, or will the front office be justified with their choice?
Thibodeau is disappointed to see his time in New York come to an end, but he clearly still has good feelings about the players, fans, and city.
NEXT: Stephen Jackson Names His 2 Potential Candidates For Knicks’ Coaching Job
