NEW YORK — Knicks owner James Dolan said on Jan. 5, 2026, that head coach Tom Thibodeau no longer aligned with the franchise’s “NBA Finals-or-bust” expectations, explaining the organization’s decision to move in a different direction.
Dolan noted that the club’s benchmark is a championship appearance and asserted that every basketball decision — including the head-coaching position — must support that goal. According to the owner, the front office concluded Thibodeau’s philosophy was not the best match for the high bar the team has set for itself.
The Knicks did not announce an immediate successor, but Dolan said the search for a new coach would prioritize candidates who embrace the same title-driven mandate.
Source: New York Post
