The New York Knicks are looking for a new head coach after they fired Tom Thibodeau. The team made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. The team led by, Leon Rose and James Dolan, want a new coach who can help the team win a championship.
Thibodeau coached the Knicks for five years. He took them to the playoffs four times and won four playoff series. He is still owed $30 million from his recent contract, according to Clutch Points.
List of Possible Candidates for New York Knicks Head Coach Position
#1 Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd, who played his final NBA season with the New York Knicks in 2012–13, is the betting favorite to land the Knicks head coaching job at -180 odds on DraftKings. He led Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Kidd coached the New Jersey Nets in 2013-14, then spent four seasons with the Bucks. In Dallas, his four-year run included two playoff misses, a conference finals loss, and a Finals loss.
There’s mutual interest between Jason Kidd and the Knicks, per @WindhorstESPN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 9, 2025
(h/t @WindhorstESPN )
pic.twitter.com/o8M1XmVtbj
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers’ Johnnie Bryant
Johnnie Bryant served as the Knicks’ top assistant from 2020 to 2024 under Tom Thibodeau. Now with Cleveland, he’s a finalist for the Suns job and could be off the market soon.
Bryant is known for his work with Donovan Mitchell in both Utah and Cleveland. In New York, he helped revive Julius Randle’s career after a rough 2021-22 season, guiding him back to All-Star form.
"I am intrigued…" 😏 @KnicksFanTv
— SportsGridRadio (@SportsGridRadio) June 10, 2025
If it's not Jason Kidd, @CPTheFanchise sees Johnnie Bryant as a strong candidate to become the next HC of the #Knicks#NYK #NYKnicks #NBA pic.twitter.com/5BLCKQhiAi
#3 Denver Nuggets’ Michael Malone
Michael Malone was fired by Denver just before the 2025 playoffs, despite leading the Nuggets to the 2023 championship. He developed Nikola Jokic into one of the league’s top stars and will likely be a leading candidate now that coach Thibodeau is out.
Malone shares Thibodeau’s heavy reliance on starters, and Denver pushed Oklahoma City to seven games in Round 2 without him, a potential red flag.
Michael Malone should be the Knicks head coach.
— Knicks Demon (@KnicksDEM0N) April 8, 2025
The Denver nuggets will be fine. pic.twitter.com/IUxMsRoIZp
#4 Former Villanova coach Jay Wright
Jay Wright coached Villanova to two NCAA titles and worked with current Knicks players Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges. He has been mentioned as a possible coaching candidate, but Clutch Points reports he is not taking the job. Wright stepped away from college basketball in 2022 and now works in broadcasting for CBS and TNT.
.@WindhorstESPN says the New York Knicks' vacant head coach position is "one of the more interesting jobs you're ever gonna see."
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 4, 2025
He also mentioned names like Mike Brown, Michael Malone, Taylor Jenkins, Jeff Van Gundy and Jay Wright as possible candidates 👀 pic.twitter.com/CtIJYvuMPv
READ MORE : 5 Reasons Why the New York Knicks Can Win the 2025 NBA Championship
#5 Phoenix Suns’ Mike Budenholzer
Mike Budenholzer won a title with the Bucks in 2021 but has since been fired by both Milwaukee and Phoenix. Mike Brown ended the Kings’ 17-year playoff drought in 2023 and could help develop the Knicks’ offense around Jalen Brunson.
Budenholzer, Brown, Adrian Griffin, and Taylor Jenkins are all repped by CAA, where Knicks president Leon Rose was a top agent before joining the front office.
Jason Kidd's Bucks never ranked higher than 13th in offense. Mike Budenholzer took over and they immediately ranked 4th.
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) June 11, 2025
Rick Carlise's '20 Mavs had the best offense in NBA history to that point. Kidd's Mavs never ranked in the top five.
I think the Knicks are dodging a bullet. https://t.co/mqBvziK1Yr
Other names linked to the Knicks job include Ime Udoka, Dan Hurley, and Jeff Van Gundy.
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
