The Knicks officially have a head coaching vacancy, and as the smoke clears following the stunning announcement of Tom Thibodeau’s exit, the focus shifts to what’s next for a team looking to make a final leap to an NBA championship.
Several names have been thrown out into the public consciousness by fans and analysts alike, and a handful will likely be on Leon Rose’s list as he closes in on Thibodeau’s replacement. Some are recognizable names, others may not ignite much excitement within the fanbase, regardless of merit.
So, let’s go through some of the likely candidates and rate the excitement level each one should elicit when imagining each coach leading this group in its quest for a title.
Michael Malone
Excitement level: Low
The former Nuggets head coach is one of the main names being thrown around since Thibodeau’s firing, but why fire a coach like Thibodeau to bring in another who is very similar to the now former Knicks head coach? Malone won a title in Denver with undeniable coaching success, but he checks a lot of the Thibodeau boxes in terms of playing his top players heavy minutes and carrying a Thibodeau-like intensity on the sidelines. Malone was fired just before the Nuggets entered the playoffs after it was decided that his relationship with the front office was irreparable. That doesn’t seem like something that will fly with Rose, and this hire wouldn’t seem to accomplish the desire for a change.
Taylor Jenkins
Excitement level: High
Another head coach fired shortly before the end of the regular season, Jenkins led the Grizzlies to four playoff appearances in his six years with Memphis, all while navigating the Ja Morant drama along the way. The 40-year-old posted a 250-214 record with the Grizzlies, and while he didn’t make his ascension that many believed he would as one of the brighter young coaches in the game, he still can with the right pieces around him and within the right situation. That can happen in New York, where the roster needs a coach that has the capability to maximize the offense, which didn’t happen this season with the Jalen Brunson/Karl-Anthony Towns duo. Jenkins would at least bring hope that a next level could be unlocked with the team’s star pairing.
Johnnie Bryant
Excitement level: High
There’s a reason why Bryant is a finalist for the Suns head coaching vacancy. Another young coach who many see a bright future for, Bryant helped a Cavaliers team finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference this season, and they looked far ahead of the Knicks in most of their regular season matchups. Most importantly, Bryant was on Thibodeau’s staff last season and carries plenty of familiarity with this roster, having time to understand what worked and what didn’t with Thibodeau at the helm. Bryant has played a part in the development of several All-Stars, beginning with his time in Utah, and with the Knicks payroll status necessitating the development of their draft products, Bryant could help in that regard while bringing a new-age thinking to the offense.
Jay Wright
Excitement level: Meh
I know, the Villanova connection with Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges would make all kinds of headlines. But the reality is, the list of coaches who successfully make the leap from the collegiate ranks to the pros is not extensive, as many don’t find nearly the same success in the NBA. Not to mention Wright already left the coaching ranks at Nova, and just how invested would he be to return to the coaching grind, albeit without the recruiting stress of the college level? Regardless, this one is hard to get excited about because it’s very hard to see Wright having much interest in the job, or any coaching job.
While we're at it, you can throw Dan Hurley into this category as well, as it seems highly unlikely he would leave UConn after turning down the Lakers last offseason, not to mention his fiery nature fitting as an NBA coach is no sure thing.
Ime Udoka
Excitement level: Moderate
Adding Udoka to this list after SNY’s Ian Begley noted him on his list of potential candidates, noting that New York would have to get permission from the Rockets and give Houston compensation to release Udoka from his current deal with the team. But Begley isn’t the first to report that there is intrigue from the Knicks, and Udoka is undeniably one of the bright young coaches in the sport. He led the Celtics to an NBA Finals appearance in 2022, and by his second season in Houston, the Rockets posted 52 wins after Udoka took over following a season in which Houston won just 22 games. The reason the excitement level isn’t higher? It will be tough to make happen, and Udoka comes with baggage of his own, as Boston suspended him for an entire season for engaging in an intimate relationship with a female member of the team staff. Udoka, who was engaged at the time, was never given his job back.
Dave Bliss
Exitement level: Moderate
No coach associated with the Thunder will generate a low excitement level. OKC looks like a well-oiled machine heading into the NBA Finals, and Bliss, the team’s top assistant coach, has played a big part in the team’s absurdly efficient defense. He has generated head coaching interest elsewhere, and he has New York familiarity from his time as a Knicks assistant. Of course, OKC seemingly has more capable players to bring Bliss and the Thunder’s defensive vision to life, so there is always the chance that, should he be hired, he doesn’t have the personnel to replicate what the Thunder have accomplished.