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After firing their most successful coach in decades, the Knicks are searching for a new leader for the 2025-26 season.
Parting ways with Tom Thibodeau following New York's first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years was a controversial decision, but team president Leon Rose believes a new voice is needed to bring the team a championship.
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The Knicks' job is drawing widespread interest, and the team is casting a wide net in its search. Plenty of names, big and small, are being thrown around as possible hires.
Here are the latest rumors surrounding the Knicks' coaching search.
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New York to interview Micah Nori
- Date: June 24
- Source: Shams Charania
The Knicks are set to interview Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori for the franchise's head coaching vacancy. This is the third interview conducted by New York, following Brown and Jenkins. Nori is a longtime NBA assistant but has not been a head coach.
Knicks interview Mike Brown
- Date: June 19
- Source: Jake Fischer/Marc Stein
New York had scheduled to interview former Lakers, Cavaliers and Kings head coach Mike Brown, and the interview was held on Wednesday, June 18. Brown began the 2024-2025 season with Sacramento, but was fired after the franchise started the season 13-18.
Knicks schedule interviews with Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins
- Date: June 13
- Source: Shams Charania
As the process continues, New York has its first two formal interviews on the schedule, as meetings have been set with Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins, per Charania. There could be more to follow.
New York 'expected to pursue' Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins
- Date: June 12
- Source: Sam Amick
As the Knicks' coaching search continues, The Athletic's Sam Amick reports that 2023 Coach of the Year Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins are believed to be targets. Both Brown and Jenkins were coaching at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, with Brown in Sacramento and Jenkins in Memphis.
Knicks' request to speak with Billy Donovan denied by Bulls
- Date: June 11
- Source: K.C. Johnson
New York's request to speak with Chicago head coach Billy Donovan has been denied by the Bulls, per Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson. Donovan is the latest in a line of active coaches the Knicks have attempted to speak with.
Hawks deny Knicks' request to speak with Quin Snyder
- Date: June 11
- Source: Shams Charania
The Knicks have made another request to speak with an active head coach, this time Atlanta's Quin Snyder. New York's request was "firmly denied," per Charania, meaning New York's search continues.
Mavericks denied Knicks on Kidd
- Date: June 11
- Source: Shams Charania
Charania said that the Knicks hadn't requested permission to speak to the Mavericks about Kidd, but that changed only an hour later. Now, the ESPN analyst reports that New York did indeed request permission to talk to Kidd, but that Dallas rejected it.
Knicks may be out on Kidd
- Date: June 11
- Source: Shams Charania
Not only is Shams Charania reporting that the Knicks haven't requested permission for Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, but also that if they did, Dallas would reject the request.
Knicks denied requests to speak with Ime Udoka, Chris Finch
- Date: June 10
- Source: Shams Charania
The Knicks formally requested interviews with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, but were denied by both Houston and Minnesota. Those coaches, along with Jason Kidd, are the three active head coaches who have been linked to New York's coaching vacancy.
Mavericks expect Jason Kidd to return to Dallas
- Date: June 10
- Source: The Athletic
Despite the Knicks interest in Kidd, and Kidd's potential interest in the Knicks, it doesn't appear as though the Mavericks want to let him go. According to The Athletic, Dallas is telling people that Kidd is not going anywhere, as he has two years left on his deal. The report adds that Kidd may be trying to turn the Knicks' interest into a contract extension,
Will the Mavericks allow Jason Kidd to be traded?
- Date: June 10
- Source: Brian Windhorst
Windhorst was on ESPN's Get Up' and talked about the possibility of Kidd going to New York to be its new head coach. He talked about how the Knicks "absolutely would like to hire Jason Kidd to be their next head coach."
The Mavericks can say no, they can offer Kidd a new contract with more money or they can trade him to the Knicks. Windhorst also pointed out that this exact scenario played out 11 years ago when Milwaukee acquired Kidd for two second round picks to be its head coach.
Jason Kidd, Knicks have "mutual interest"
- Date: June 9
- Source: Brian Windhorst
While the Mavericks haven't reportedly given New York permission to speak with Kidd, it appears that Kidd is interested in the job. However, he is still under contract with Dallas and can't do anything unless the Mavericks allow it, which could lead to a trade between the two teams.
Jay Wright will not come out of retirement for the Knicks job
- Date: June 7
- Source: Jon Rothstein
Rothstein reports that Jay Wright is happily retired and has no interest in returning to coaching for the Knicks. He coached current New York players Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart to national titles at Villanova.
Dan Hurley does not want the Knicks job
- Date: June 7
- Source: Dom Amore
Amore, a reporter for the Hartford Courant, writes that UConn's Dan Hurley does not want the Knicks head coaching job. "Not another summer of that," Hurley told Amore, referring to his serious consideration for the Lakers job last year, which ultimately went to JJ Reddick.
Knicks expected to ask for permission to interview Jason Kidd
- Date: June 6
- Source: Marc Stein
Stein reports that the Knicks are looking into the Mavericks head coach. Kidd played for the Knicks in 2012-13, his final NBA season, and coached Jalen Brunson in Dallas. The Mavericks can deny any request to interview their current head coach.
MORE TOM THIBODEAU NEWS:
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- How reliance on starters led to Thibodeau's ouster
- Most shocking coach firings in New York sports history
Why did the Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau?
The Knicks' decision to fire Thibodeau came after the franchise's deepest postseason run in 25 years, but team president Leon Rose felt that the team had reached its ceiling under the head coach.
.@nyknicks Announce Coaching Change pic.twitter.com/XhWOUSwWvn
— NY Knicks PR (@NY_KnicksPR) June 3, 2025"Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans," Rose said in an official release. "Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward."
One of the biggest concerns with Thibodeau as a head coach is his reliance on playing starters heavy minutes during the regular season and postseason. ESPN's Shams Charania reported during a spot on the Pat McAfee Show that New York "might be looking for a guy that trusts their bench more."
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