Who's Next? Inside the Search for the New York Knicks' Head Coach
With the dust barely settled after reaching the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks are shaking things up at the top. Head coach Tom Thibodeau has been relieved of his duties after five seasons, and the hunt for his successor is on.
Under Thibodeau's watch, the Knicks clawed back to relevance, bagging four playoff appearances in five years. The latest season saw them fall to the Indiana Pacers in a hard-fought six-game series in the Eastern Conference finals - a stage they hadn't reached since the 1999-2000 season. The numbers say plenty: 226-174 in regular-season wars, 24-23 in the post-season gladiator games - all under Thibodeau's command.
As of June 5, the odds are in, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, giving fans and punters alike plenty to speculate on.
- Johnnie Bryant: -140
- Michael Malone: +275
- Jay Wright: +800
- Jason Kidd: +1300
- Dan Hurley: +1400
- Jeff Van Gundy: +1500
- Steve Nash: +1500
- Taylor Jenkins: +2500
- John Calipari: +2500
Leading the pack is Johnnie Bryant, the Cleveland Cavaliers' associate head coach, who recently saw his stock soar past early favorite Michael Malone. Bryant, previously nestled among the Knicks' coaching staff from 2020 to 2024, was at one point a finalist for the Phoenix Suns' head coaching gig - a position that ultimately went to Jordan Ott, another Cleveland assistant.
Michael Malone's journey saw a twist when he was axed by the Denver Nuggets just days before the curtain fell on the 2024-25 regular season. Already familiar in the coaching carousel, Malone still ranks as a strong contender despite Bryant's current odds lead.
As the Knicks begin this crucial hiring process amid the bright lights of the Big Apple, the basketball world watches closely. Whoever steps into this role not only inherits a team with revitalized expectations but also takes on the mantle of steering a storied franchise toward championship aspirations.
