If Thibodeau Had to Go, Mike Malone Better Be on the First Flight to NYC

Welp… the Knicks kicked Tom Thibodeau to the curb like a Timberland boot in June.

They really did it, y’all.

Fired the man who dragged this franchise from basketball irrelevance back to the actual conversation.

After five seasons, the Knicks sent Thibs packing like TSA at JFK. And if I’m being real —this isn’t just disrespectful—it's DUMB. 

And oh yeah… he just led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.

That was 25 years ago, bruh.

The last time we saw them that deep in the playoffs, Destiny’s Child was still a group, Nas had just dropped “Stillmatic,” and Allen Iverson was still making people touch Earth off a crossover.

And now? Now he’s out the door like he was holding the team back.

In five seasons, Thibs racked up:

• A 226-174 regular-season record

• 4 playoff appearances (the same amount the Knicks had total from 2001 to 2020 😭)

• Back-to-back 50+ win seasons — the first since the Clinton administration

• 24 playoff wins — more than the last 13 Knicks coaches combined

And you mean to tell me that’s not enough? That’s not worthy of at least seeing his contract through?

C’mon, man.

This is how you treat the coach who had Knicks' fans believing in the Garden again?

Oh, and let’s not forget: he signed a 3-year extension LAST SUMMER.

The front office is firing a man with $30 million guaranteed still on the books?

So what’s the play here?

Because from where I’m standing, it looks like Leon Rose just panic-fired the guy who turned a poverty franchise around and had New York City electric!

Sure, the Knicks blew a 20-point lead in Game 1 of the ECF against the Pacers. But did y’all WATCH the game?

Didn't the Knicks bring in Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to defend?

Or is it me?

That isn’t on Thibs. 

What’s he supposed to do — check himself into the game? Throw on some knee pads and D up Tyrese Haliburton?

Stop Aaron Nesmith from turning into the second coming of Reggie Miller?

Let me be clear: I get it.

Thibs is old school. He runs his starters hard. Doesn’t always vibe with the analytics crowd. But the man builds culture. He instills grit.

He made defense cool in a league full of 130-point shootouts. And most importantly — he WINS.

So what’s next? 👀

Here’s my hot take: Mike Malone is about to be the next Knicks head coach.

Yeah, I said it.

Call it a gut feeling, call it insider whispers, call it whatever you want. But the writing’s on the wall.

Rumors say he wasn't vibing with Denver’s front office and some of the players.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are sitting here with star power in Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and Madison Square Garden's begging for a ring ceremony.

Malone is that type of dog. He led the Nuggets to a championship with Jokic, Jamal Murray and those boys. He commands respect, holds stars accountable, and doesn’t run from the moment.

He’s built for New York. And you best believe he’ll bring in a system that gets even more out of Brunson, KAT, and maybe finally gives the Knicks a reason to believe the Larry O'Brien trophy can come back to the Garden.

But I’ll say this: if you’re going to move off a coach who just gave your franchise real hope, you better come correct.

Because if this move backfires — if this team slips, if Brunson gets frustrated — Leon Rose might be the next one packing.