Knicks get Jay Wright clarity in their head coach search
For as long as the 'Nova Knicks were around, Jay Wright was considered the most logical succession plan if Tom Thibodeau was bounced.
But as it turns out, Wright is 'happy in retirement' and not a candidate for the vacant Knicks position, as first reported by The Post.
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Wright, 63, has close ties to several members of the Knicks, including team president Leon Rose.
Their regular conversations led to Rose's understanding that Wright isn't interested in returning to the sideline, a league source said.
As the wildly successful head coach at Villanova, Wright guided Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart to multiple national titles before retiring in 2022 amid the rise of NIL.
He's now at CBS as a TV analyst for college basketball.
Just last year, Wright told The Post he wasn't interested in coaching again as speculation swirled about the open Lakers gig.
Jay Wright is not going to be a Knicks coaching candidate. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
'No,' Wright said. 'It's humbling that someone would even mention you or think about you. I've been around so long, all the guys who are making the decisions, I know those guys. I wasn't talking to [Lakers general manager] Rob Pelinka at the end of that. There were no conversations.
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'You know you can't stop it, so you have to sit back and say it's part of the business. When you're not coaching anymore, you're still kind of flattered that somebody would think of you.'
Jalen Brunson and Jay Wright in 2017. Paul J. Bereswill
With Wright out of the picture, much of the noise recently has centered on Jason Kidd, who is being targeted by the Knicks, a source confirmed, but carries the conundrum of being under contract with the Mavericks.
According to veteran NBA writer Marc Stein, the Knicks are prepared to ask Dallas for permission to interview Kidd.
There's no guarantee it would be granted, but it's worth noting that Kidd, who has two years remaining on the extension he signed during the 2024 Finals run, successfully maneuvered himself out of a Brooklyn Nets contract over a decade ago to join Milwaukee.
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Like Wright, Kidd also coached Brunson. They spent a year together in Dallas, when Brunson blossomed from a role player to a scoring stud in the 2022 playoffs.
Of Brunson's three NBA coaches, the point guard ranked Kidd as second.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd looks on during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at the American Airlines Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
'I'm going to say Thibs, No. 1. Thibs helped me become an All-Star,' Brunson said on his podcast, 'The Roommates Show' a couple of months ago. 'J-Kidd is No. 2. J-Kidd gave me the confidence to be better and perform better.'
The third coach was current Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who recently eliminated the Knicks for a second straight postseason. Carlisle guided Brunson for his first three seasons in Dallas.
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As The Post reported, the Knicks are emphasizing experience in their search and would be comfortable without a hire until Summer League, which starts in about a month. They shockingly fired Thibodeau on Tuesday after the franchise's first run to the conference finals in 25 years, with Rose explaining the move with a statement that read, 'Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship.'
Since then, at least three potential candidates have either been removed via statements or sourced reporting.
Danny Hurley, the UConn coach, told reporters he wouldn't endure another summer of NBA job hunting after last year's heavy flirtation with the Lakers.
Ime Udoka would be a candidate, but his current team, the Rockets, 'has no interest' in allowing him to interview with the Knicks, according to The Athletic.
Now Wright is officially out.
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