As the New York Knicks gear up for what could be a title-contending season in 2025-26, the head coach that led them to their most success this century was spotted several time zones away.
Training camps are underway all across the league.
After five seasons in New York, Tom Thibodeau was fired by the Knicks at the start of the summer. He had helped return New York to respectability after it had spent the better part of two decades in the NBA wilderness, plagued by poor coaching and overpriced rosters.
Thibodeau has been a frequent flier at Phoenix Suns team practices so far, per Kellan Olson of Arizona Sports. Olson captured video footage of Thibodeau talking with second-year Suns power forward Oso Ighodaro.
New York replaced Thibodeau with another two-time Coach of the Year, ex-Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown.
Across his five seasons in New York, Thibodeau logged a 226-174 regular season record and a 24-23 playoff record. He brought the Knicks to the playoffs four times during those five seasons, winning at least a round in three of those seasons. Last year, for the first time since 2000, the Knicks advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Overall, Thibodeau boasts a 578-420 regular season record (.579) and a 48-55 playoff record (.466).
More news: Knicks Guard Takes Shot at Fired Coach Tom Thibodeau
Now, Thibodeau is a free agent, despite having been signed to a three-year contract extension just last summer. That deal kicks off this season, meaning the 67-year-old will be paid not to coach New York.
Will he be doing some consulting work for Phoenix in the years to come?
First-time head coach Jordan Ott, most recently an assistant coach on the 64-18 Cleveland Cavaliers last season, was brought in to steward what promises to be another lottery-bound Suns roster. He’s Phoenix’s fourth coach in as many years under owner Mat Ishbia. The 40-year-old could presumably use all the veteran coaching help he can get.
More news: Knicks Star Reacts to New Free Agent Signing
Thibodeau has been unfairly maligned for his hard-driving approach to the game. He has won everywhere he’s coached, and helped revitalize franchises in Chicago Minnesota, and finally New York.
His expertise could greatly benefit Ott, ahead of what is destined to be a challenging year in Phoenix.
More news: Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns Sends Message to Critics
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
