An update on where things stand with the Knicks coaching search: per league sources familiar with the matter, New York is not in contract negotiations with any candidate and has not made a contract offer to any of the candidates it has interviewed.
The Knicks are continuing to do their due diligence and there is a strong likelihood that they will have conversations with multiple candidates next week, per SNY league sources.
It remains likely that the club will hire a coach by the end of the month, prior to the NBA resuming its regular season in Orlando.
“They’re still exploring their options,” a league source familiar with the Knicks’ process told SNY.
Agents and coaches with a vested interest in the Knicks’ search have long believed that Tom Thibodeau is the coach most likely to be hired by Knicks president Leon Rose. The Knicks have interviewed 11 candidates for the job. All candidates are believed to have interviewed twice over Zoom calls.
Sports Illustrated reported that Kenny Atkinson interviewed with the club on Monday. That was believed to be Atkinson’s second interview.
The idea that the Knicks haven’t made a contract offer to any candidate suggests that Thibodeau’s hire isn’t as much of a foregone conclusion as the coaches and agents referenced above thought. That they may be talking to candidates again next week also tells you the Knicks haven’t fully settled on Thibodeau.
The Knicks are said to be taking a diligent approach with their search.
In addition to Thibodeau and Atkinson, the Knicks have interviewed Lakers assistant Jason Kidd, former Knicks coach Mike Woodson, Golden State assistant Mike Brown, Bulls assistant Chris Fleming, Dallas assistant Jamahl Mosley, San Antonio assistant Will Hardy, Philadelphia 76ers lead assistant Ime Udoka and Orlando Magic assistant Pat Delany.
Rose and Thibodeau have a close relationship, and Thibodeau also has a solid relationship with Knicks executive vice president and senior advisor William “World Wide Wes” Wesley.
With regards to other candidates, Atkinson, Kidd and Woodson have strong ties to the organization and significant support from some at Madison Square Garden. Additionally, Rose was impressed by interim head coach Mike Miller during the brief time that he got to work alongside him in March.
There is some internal support at the Garden to adding Miller and/or Woodson on the next coaching staff, regardless of who the head coach is, per league sources.
Rose, Wesley, GM Scott Perry and Vice President of Basketball and Strategic Planning Brock Aller have been among the group of Knicks participating in the interviews, per SNY sources.