Knicks Denied Interviews with Multiple NBA Head Coaches Amid Coaching Search

Following the firing of Tom Thibodeau after leading the New York Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years, the Knicks have struggled to secure a new head coach. Their requests to interview several prominent, currently employed coaches—including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets, Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks—have all been denied by the respective teams. These teams are reluctant to release their coaches due to ongoing contracts and playoff aspirations, complicating the Knicks' search. Additionally, former Villanova coach Jay Wright, previously linked to the Knicks, withdrew his candidacy. Thibodeau, who finished his five-year tenure with a 226-174 record, expressed gratitude to Knicks fans following his dismissal. The Knicks now face a challenging coaching search as they aim to build on their recent success and redefine their team identity.