LAS VEGAS — Phil Jackson got to fire one coach before he was gone. Same with Steve Mills.&nbsp;

Sean Marks’ lifetime gig in Brooklyn notwithstanding, most top executives don’t make it to a third hire.&nbsp;

In the NBA, or any professional sports league for that matter, there’s an order of blame that almost always goes like this:&nbsp;

In firing Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks took the leap over No. 3 quicker than we anticipated. There wasn’t a big public groundswell to can the coach, just as there wasn’t a big groundswell <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/07/08/sports/mike-brown-embracing-lofty-expectations-in-first-comments-as-knicks-coach/">to hire Mike Brown</a>.&nbsp;

If the team doesn’t get to at least the conference finals, the blame will fall squarely on the front office. {ai:summary}<p>The Knicks have fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, marking a swift decision in a league where executives rarely last through three coaching hires. This move comes without significant public demand for his dismissal, similar to the previous hiring of Mike Brown. </p><p>#sports</p>

Knicks’ head coach gamble exposes front office to new degrees of accountability

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