Karl-Anthony Cities didn’t use any phrases.
Hours after the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau as their head coach, Cities used his Instagram story to re-share a picture displaying him and Thibodeau sitting subsequent to one another and smiling.
Cities had initially posted the undated picture as a part of an end-of-season tribute after the Indiana Pacers eradicated the Knicks within the Japanese Convention Finals.
Reactions to Thibodeau’s firing proceed to pour in, with many nonetheless shocked the Knicks parted methods with one of many winningest coaches in franchise historical past after he led them to their first convention finals in a quarter-century.
“I was actually sitting in shock when I heard,” St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino instructed WFAN’s Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata.
“About 10 minutes prior to Thibs getting fired, I said to someone, ‘What is wrong with you? There’s no way that Thibs is going to get fired. It shouldn’t even be talked about.’ And then 10 minutes later, I got a text from the same guy.”
Pitino was the Knicks’ head coach from 1987-89 — and an assistant from 1983-85 — however stated throughout Wednesday’s interview that he wouldn’t be considering returning to the job.
“I would never wish myself that at this stage in my life,” Pitino, 72, stated.
He additionally opined that the Knicks’ playoff defeat was not Thibodeau’s fault, however moderately that of the roster, and urged whomever is employed as the following head coach will face “probably the biggest amount of pressure I’ve seen in all my tenure rooting for the Knicks.”
Pitino stated Jay Wright — who received NCAA championships with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart at Villanova — could be a “home run.”
“He’s got the personality to handle New York,” Pitino stated. “He’s got the charisma. He makes a lot of sense, obviously, with the Villanova guys. But I will tell you, coaching the guys in college and coaching the guys in the pros is different.”
Mike Greenberg shared an identical sentiment on social media on Tuesday. After he described Thibodeau’s ouster as a “startlingly terrible decision,” the ESPN host wrote that Wright was the one candidate who “would make this firing make sense.”
June 4, 2025: Out!
New York Each day Information
Again web page for June 4, 2025: Regardless of molding Knicks right into a contender, Thibs fired after failing to succeed in Finals. Three days after Pacers bounce his Knicks from East Finals, Tom Thibodeau is fired as staff appears for brand spanking new voice to steer it to its first NBA title since 1973.
Stephen A. Smith additionally expressed disbelief, asking on his podcast, “Why the hell is [Thibodeau] out of a job?”
Hart provided one of many earliest reactions, writing moments after Thibodeau was fired, “Forever grateful. Thank you!”
“When I first saw it, I thought it was one of those fake AI things,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle stated Wednesday. “Like, ‘No way. There’s no method doable.’
“I know how the players feel about him, too,” Carlisle continued. “There’s not much else to say. Teams and ownership can make these decisions unilaterally, and it’s their right to do that. But Tom will certainly be fine. I don’t think he’s going to have any problem finding his next job.”
Thibodeau’s 226 wins in 5 seasons because the Knicks coach are the fourth most in franchise historical past.
The Knicks made the playoffs in 4 of his 5 seasons, together with every of the final three, after lacking the postseason in every of the seven years earlier than his arrival. This 12 months’s convention finals berth was the Knicks’ first since 2000.
However the Knicks search a brand new chief to take them additional, with staff president Leon Rose saying in an announcement that the group is “singularly centered on profitable a championship.
“I am a Tom Thibodeau fan,” wrote actor Ben Stiller, a Knicks superfan who attended video games, house and away, all through their playoff run.
“He brought this team back,” Stiller continued. “I felt he gave every bit of himself and was always looking to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he brought the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are championship contenders again. The Knicks became winners again with him.”
Brunson, the Knicks’ staff captain, is but to react publicly to the firing, however he made his help for Thibodeau clear when he was requested in regards to the coach after Saturday’s season-ending Sport 6 loss.
“Is that a real question right now?” Brunson stated. “You just asked me if I believe [Thibodeau] is the right guy. Yes. Come on.”
Initially Revealed: June 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM EDT
