5 best candidates to replace Thibodeau after Knicks firing

The New York Knicks have a coveted head coaching vacancy after firing Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday after five seasons at the helm.

Here we take a look at five competent candidates the organization could hire to get it over the hump following an exit in the Eastern Conference finals.

Michael Malone

NBA head coaching experience: 904 games (Kings, Nuggets)
NBA record: 510-394

There's no reason Malone shouldn't be atop New York's short list. The 53-year-old has arguably the strongest track record among the names available. He guided the Denver Nuggets to six playoff appearances - and was on track for a seventh before being let go in the season's final week - across 10 campaigns. His greatest accomplishment came in 2023, when he helped deliver the franchise's maiden NBA title. Malone's 510 career victories ranks seventh among active head coaches.

Born and raised in the Queens area, Malone has history with the Knicks. He served various roles for the team from 2001-05, including his first NBA assistant coaching gig as a member of Don Chaney's staff. Malone's father, Brendan, had three separate stints with the club as an assistant coach.

The major concern regarding Malone is that he operates very much like Thibodeau. Malone's overdependence on Denver's starters and unwillingness to work younger players into the rotation were reportedly among the reasons he was dismissed. Knicks forward Mikal Bridges expressed concern earlier this season about the starters' workload. Thibodeau's lack of lineup experimentation during the regular season hurt in the East finals when the Knicks needed to make adjustments. A similar scenario could play out if Malone takes charge.

Taylor Jenkins

NBA head coaching experience: 464 games (Grizzlies)
NBA record: 250-214

Jenkins could be the solution to the Knicks' depth concerns, as the former Memphis Grizzlies coach has a proven track record of getting the most out of rotational players. In four of his six seasons in Memphis, Jenkins' squad was in the top 10 in bench points - including the best mark in the league this season (45.5) prior to his dismissal in March. The Knicks were on the opposite end of the spectrum, finishing dead last in bench points (21.7) and minutes (12.7). Thibs played his starters an NBA-leading 940 minutes together in the regular season - over 200 more than the next lineup.

While Jenkins, 40, is the least experienced of this group, he brought Memphis to the playoffs three straight seasons. His in-game adjustments and defensive scheme should make him as a top candidate for the vacancy. The Grizzlies' lack of postseason success and losing record against opponents over .500 this season will garner some scrutiny for Jenkins, but the Knicks' high regular-season floor should keep them competitive. In order to rise, New York needs that final jolt of unpredictability, which Jenkins might be able to cultivate.

Dan Hurley

NBA head coaching experience: None
NBA record: None

Hurley famously turned down the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason to pursue a three-peat with UConn, but the Huskies came up short of the milestone. While the school is positioned well to make another run, it's fair to wonder if Hurley would make the leap now.

Hurley has ties to the New York area, being born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. He played five seasons for Seton Hall before returning to his hometown to begin his coaching career at St. Anthony High School, where his father, Bob, carved out a Hall of Fame career. There's a deep connection to the Big Apple that the bright lights of Los Angeles don't offer.

But hiring Hurley wouldn't just be a feel-good story. The 52-year-old runs a sophisticated offense which notably caught the eye of LeBron James. UConn finished third and first, respectively, in KenPom's rankings for adjusted offensive efficiency during its title-winning campaigns in 2023 and 2024. Hurley would certainly bring more offensive creativity to the table than Thibodeau.

Mike Budenholzer

NBA head coaching experience: 883 games (Hawks, Bucks, Suns)
NBA record: 520-363

Budenholzer's tumultuous one-season run with the Phoenix Suns may cast some doubt on his reputation. However, he's a two-time Coach of the Year and has missed the playoffs only twice in 11 seasons as a head coach, gaining a reputation for orchestrating regular-season success in the process. Budenholzer's postseason resume is spottier, though he helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a title in 2021 and reached the conference finals on two other occasions. The Knicks are looking for a bench boss who can navigate a weakened Eastern Conference, and Budenholzer has experience in that area.

The 55-year-old has consistently demanded volume 3-point shooting during his prior stops. The Knicks finished 27th in the NBA with 34.1 attempts per game despite having the eighth-best shooting percentage from deep (36.9%). He has a history of installing thriving offensive and defensive systems, favoring a high pace of play and effective spacing. Some tough love could be exactly what this Knicks roster of playoff-hardened veterans requires, and Budenholzer learned from austere savant Gregg Popovich as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs from 1996-2013.

Jeff Van Gundy

NBA head coaching experience: 748 games (Knicks, Rockets)
NBA record: 430-318

In order to get the Knicks that elusive championship, a familiar name might need to rejoin the franchise. Jeff Van Gundy served as New York's bench boss from 1995-2001, guiding the franchise to six consecutive playoff appearances. His signature moment was in 1999, when the Knicks upset the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and Indiana Pacers in the playoffs to become the first team to reach the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed before losing to the San Antonio Spurs. Van Gundy later stepped down from the Knicks and was hired by the Houston Rockets in 2003. A key name stands out as an assistant on Van Gundy's staffs in New York and Houston: the recently fired Thibodeau.

Seventeen years removed from his Rockets dismissal in 2007, Van Gundy was brought in to be Tyronn Lue's lead assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers this season. The veteran coach proved his worth once again, helping the Clippers outperform expectations with a 50-32 regular-season record while capturing the league's third-best defensive rating (109.4) - a tangible improvement from their 16th-ranked finish last campaign. Van Gundy would be a worthy candidate to lead the Knicks to their first title in over 50 years.

All coaching records based on NBA regular-season games