The Knicks are planning to interview former head coach Mike Woodson during their upcoming coaching search, per SNY sources.
Woodson, Tom Thibodeau, interim head coach Mike Miller and Kenny Atkinson are all expected to interview with New York during the coaching search.
Woodson won 54 games with the Knicks in 2012-13 and won a playoff series that season -- their only playoff series win since 2000.
Interviews are expected to begin once New York has clarity on what will happen with the rest of the NBA season, with the expectation being that a 22-team format that does not include the Knicks will soon be approved.
As reported in March, agents and other coaches with a vested interest in the Knicks' head coaching search believe Thibodeau is the most likely hire if new team president Leon Rose decides not to retain Miller as head coach.
Rose has a strong relationship with Thibodeau. Others who have been mentioned as potential Knicks candidates include Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson (who is held in high regard by some in the organization). Rose also has a close relationship with Kentucky's John Calipari, though it is unknown if Calipari is a candidate at the moment.
The Knicks could reportedly have competition from the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets in their pursuit of Thibodeau. The New York Post has reported that the teams have "strong interest" in Thibodeau (in Houston's case, this would be if the club moved on from Mike D'Antoni.
But the Rockets and Nets will be participating in the resumed NBA season next month in Florida. So neither team will engage in a coaching search at this point.
With regards to Woodson, he was let go by team president Phil Jackson after the Knicks' 37-win season in 2013-14. The club had lost at least 50 games in each season since Woodson's departure except for 2019-20. The Knicks finished the shortened season at 21-45, on pace to crack the 50-loss mark again.
Woodson interviewed with New York in the 2018 offseason before the club hired David Fizdale.
Some in the organization say Fizdale had interest in adding Woodson to a prominent role on his staff once he took the Knicks job. Fizdale worked for Woodson as an assistant coach in Atlanta and the two developed a very close relationship. Fizdale has said that he considers Woodson an extremely important mentor in his career. But the idea of Fizdale hiring Woodson was met with resistance elsewhere within the organization, per SNY sources.
If Rose decides not to bring back Miller as head coach, some with MSG would like to see Miller remain with the organization, as SNY reported. Rose was impressed by Miller during the brief period he observed the veteran coach, per sources. (The season was suspended less than two weeks after Rose officially took over as Knicks team president).
The coaching hire will be Rose's most significant move as team president to date. The Knicks certainly hope Rose can find stability on the sideline.
New York's next coach will be the franchise's 10th full-time head coach since Van Gundy left the club in 2001.