Tom Thibodeau is set to stay put.
The head coach of the New York Knicks has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2027-28 season, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Thibodeau’s new contract reflects the current market for head coaches, where annual salaries often exceed eight figures.
This extension follows expectations reported by Marc Stein on June 26 that Thibodeau would soon secure a new deal with the Knicks.
Thibodeau joined the Knicks before the 2020-21 season, taking over from interim coach Mike Miller following the dismissal of David Fizdale.
The Knicks aimed to capitalize on Thibodeau’s successful stints, including guiding the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs every year from 2010 to 2015 and leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to their first playoffs in 14 years in 2018.
In his first season in New York, Thibodeau earned Coach of the Year honors as the Knicks finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 41-31 record. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Atlanta Hawks.
The following season, the Knicks struggled, finishing 11th in the East with a 37-45 record, missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.
In the 2023-24 season, the Knicks rebounded strongly under Thibodeau, securing second place in the Eastern Conference with a 50-32 record. They advanced past the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round but were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the second round due to injuries to key players such as Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
While the Knicks haven’t been serious NBA Finals contenders since the 1990s and last won a title in 1973, the team’s outlook is promising with Thibodeau locked in and a talented roster led by Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Randle, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and a solid supporting cast.
