Latest news with #TomThibodeau
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks' Head Coach Target Named 'Long Shot' After Report
Knicks' Head Coach Target Named 'Long Shot' After Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Knicks enter the NBA offseason as the only team in the league still searching for their next head coach. Advertisement Of course, the Knicks made the shocking decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after he helped lead them to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. Despite New York's success this season, they clearly felt that it was time for a change on the sidelines and they now have a crucial decision to make in their head coaching search. Former New York Knicks head coach Tom ThibodeauVincent Carchietta-Imagn Images It has been reported that the Knicks tried to interview Jason Kidd, Chris Finch Ime Udoka, Billy Donovan and Quin Snyder, but their teams all denied New York a chance to do so. Now the Knicks have pivoted in a different direction as they have reportedly interviewed former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown along with former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. © Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images Another coached linked to the Knicks' job is Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant, who was also a finalist for the Phoenix Suns' head coaching job before they decided to hire Jordan Ott. Advertisement While Bryant has been linked to New York, Knicks insider Ian Begley recently reported that he remains a 'long shot' to become the franchise's next head coach. 'I heard late last week that Johnnie was more of a longer shot there,' Begley said. When you're talking about the coaches who've been in or will be in for interviews, the guys we've already talked about, I think those are the guys who have much higher odds of landing this thing than Johnnie Bryant.' This is a massive report by Begley as Bryant had emerged as one of the favorites to be the next head coach in New York, though that no longer seems to be the case. Advertisement Of course, it seems as though the Knicks are looking to hire a coach who already has experience as a head coach in the NBA and because of that, it looks as though they will head in a different direction than Bryant. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ime Udoka reportedly agrees to long-term extension with Rockets that makes him one of the NBA's top-paid coaches
The Houston Rockets like what they've seen from head coach Ime Udoka. Following the team's excellent 2024-25 season, the Rockets reportedly signed Udoka to a long-term extension that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Udoka, 47, was hired by the Rockets in 2023. During his season with the team, Udoka saw the Rockets improve by 19 games. After going 21-60 during the 2022-23 NBA season, the Rockets finished .500. The team didn't make the playoffs, but it was an impressive turnaround. Advertisement Things got even better this season. The Rockets improved yet again, winning 52 games and making the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. Despite securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, the Rockets were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in seven games during the first round of the playoffs. Following that elimination, Udoka's name emerged as a possible candidate to replace Tom Thibodeau after his surprising firing by the New York Knicks. The Knicks reportedly asked the Rockets for permission to speak with Udoka about the opening, but were denied. Prior to joining the Rockets, Udoka served as the Boston Celtics' head coach for one season. He led the team to the NBA Finals that year, but was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season for violating the team's code of conduct. The suspension came after Udoka reportedly engaged in an improper, consensual relationship with a team staffer. Weeks after that suspension, Udoka was nearly hired as the Brooklyn Nets' head coach, but the team pivoted at the last minute. Joe Mazulla replaced Udoka in Boston and was eventually hired as the Celtics' full-time head coach. After sitting out the 2022-23 NBA season, Udoka was hired by the Rockets after the team fired Stephen Silas. Now inked to a long-term deal, Udoka will focus on trying to lead the Rockets to the team's first NBA championship since the 1994-95 season.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks Head Coach Target Makes Major Move During Offseason
Knicks Head Coach Target Makes Major Move During Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the NBA enters the offseason there is only one team remaining that is still amid a search for their next head coach. Advertisement That team in the New York Knicks as they continue to search for a replacement for Tom Thibodeau. Of course, the Knicks made the shocking decision to fire Thibodeau just three days after their playoff exit. This was a surprising move from the storied franchise as Thibodeau helped lead the team to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000 and also led them to back-to-back 50-win seasons since the 1990s. New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau with center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Despite this, they felt that it was time for a change on the sidelines and they now have a crucial decision to make regarding the next head coach of the franchise. It has been reported that New York tried to interview many head coaches around the NBA, including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, but they were turned down by every team. Advertisement Another team that shut down the Knicks was the Houston Rockets as they denied New York's request to interview head coach Ime Udoka. One Thursday, the Rockets and Udoka made a massive move as ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Udoka has agreed to a long-term contract extension that will make him one of the highest paid coaches in the NBA. This is a massive move by the Rockets and Udoka and one that is well deserved after he helped Houston win 52 games and finish second in the Western Conference. With this news coming out on Thursday, it is now clear why the Rockets were unwilling to allow the Knicks to interview Udoka for their head coaching job as he will now be in Houston for the foreseeable future. Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) and head coach Ime Udoka look on in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesMandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Because of this, the Knicks now have to shift their search to other targets as they try to find the next head coach of their franchise sooner rather than later with the offseason underway. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks Adding EuroLeague Standout Ahead of 2025 Draft
Knicks Adding EuroLeague Standout Ahead of 2025 Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Even prior to next week's 2025 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks will be getting some help from abroad next year. Advertisement New York will take all the help it can get. All the Knicks have in terms of future draft selections this season is the No. 50 pick in the second round, which New York brought in through a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. Marc del Rio of (hat tip to @NBA_NewYork for the find) reports that the Knicks will finally be bringing in center James Nnaji for the 2025-26 season. The 20-year-old, who boasts an impressive 7-foot-5 wingspan and is considered to be a solid defensive presence around the rack, could help shore up the club's post defense, behind oft-hurt backup five Mitchell Robinson. New York Knicks' court logo during the NBA Penner-Imagn Images Nnaji was a draft-and-stash throw-in addition that New York first acquired as part of the team's blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire five-time All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns. Advertisement With Towns installed, the Knicks went 51-31 and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals this spring — the first time in 25 years New York has made it that far. Naturally, the club immediately fired the head coach that got it there and had established a culture of winning and accountability over his five seasons in charge, Tom Thibodeau. Nnaji, while on loan from FC Barcelona, most recently played for Spanish squad Bàsquet Girona in 2024-25. Former three-time All-Star NBA center Marc Gasol founded Girona in 2014. Across 14 contests with Girona, he averaged 5.3 points on 75.7 percent field goal shooting, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in just 16.2 minutes per. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Ime Udoka gets Rockets contract extension after Knicks interest
Not only did the Rockets deny the Knicks' request to interview head coach Ime Udoka, they've now secured him for the foreseeable future. He agreed to a long-term contract extension that makes him one of the NBA's highest-paid coaches, ESPN reported Thursday. The Knicks asked for permission to speak with Udoka earlier this month for their head coaching vacancy after firing Tom Thibodeau. Udoka just completed his second season with the Rockets, leading them to a 52-30 record as part of a dramatic turnaround for the franchise under his tutelage. The Knicks have requested and been denied permission to interview a number of coaches who are currently under contract, including the Mavericks with Jason Kidd, the Timberwolves with Chris Finch, the Bulls with Billy Donovan and the Hawks with Quin Snyder. Ime Udoka signed a contract extension with the Rockets. Getty Images Kidd is seeking a contract extension, and the Knicks' pursuit of him is not yet over, The Post's Stefan Bondy previously reported. In terms of coaches that are actually available and not currently employed, the Knicks interviewed Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown this week, Bondy confirmed. Jenkins was fired by the Grizzlies midseason, while the Kings parted ways with Brown midseason. The Knicks axed Thibodeau earlier this month after five seasons, despite him leading the team to its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after five seasons in June 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post 'Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,' Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement at the time. 'This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction.'
