Tom Thibodeau isn’t going anywhere.
Thibodeau has agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him in New York through the 2027-28 season, SNY sources confirm. ESPN was the first to report the extension.
The Knicks and Thibodeau always knew they’d find common ground on a new deal, but the Knicks wanted to get through major offseason player moves before working in earnest on extension, according to SNY sources. There are no team options for seasons beyond 2027-28 in Thibodeau’s new deal, per sources.
Hired by team president Leon Rose ahead of the 2020-21 season, Thibodeau has proven to be a perfect fit for the Knicks, where he previously coached as an assistant from 1996-2003.
Under Thibodeau's leadership, the Knicks have gone to the playoffs three times in four seasons, including a 50-win regular season in 2023-24 that saw the Knicks reach Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Overall, Thibodeau has a record of 175-143 as the Knicks' head coach; he is the first coach to lead the Knicks to the second round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since Jeff Van Gundy did so in 1999 and 2000.
Known for his hard-nosed attitude and defense-first approach, Thibodeau has helped create a sustained winning culture in New York. Before Thibodeau’s arrival, the Knicks had made the playoffs just four times in 20 seasons.
Thibodeau, Rose and the rest of the Knicks’ leadership have established a level of stability rarely seen at Madison Square Garden.
Now, with Mikal Bridges joining an already talented core of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Donte DiVincenzo, among others, Thibodeau hopes to help the Knicks not just make the NBA Finals, which they haven't done since 1998-99, but win a championship.
Thibodeau and the Knicks reaching an extension on Wednesday is certainly a credit to the head coach. But Rose also played a major role in Thibodeau reaching this point.
As previously reported, Rose was given the latitude by Knicks ownership to make a head coaching change around the 2022 All-Star break. The team president chose to stick with Thibodeau. Rose also could have used Thibodeau as a scapegoat for the team’s slow start in 2022-23. Instead, he again stood by his head coach. The results of those decisions speak for themselves.
There was speculation that Thibodeau, 66, would get an extension before the 2023-24 season. But the Knicks chose a wait-and-see approach. One element that they wanted a chance to see? How Thibodeau would get along with other departments in the organization, including the front office. Clearly, Thibodeau passed that test.
He now has the chance to be the longest-tenured head coach since Red Holzman, who coached the Knicks to two NBA titles (1969 and 1973).
Thibodeau was an assistant coach in 1999 when the Knicks last reached the NBA Finals. He’s now the head coach of a Knicks team with a legitimate shot to match that – and take one step further – over the next few seasons.