It was back in the 2017-18 season that the Minnesota Timberwolves finished 47-35 and earned their first trip to the playoffs in 14 years. Their head coach that season was Tom Thibodeau.
Things didn’t go as well the following season (Jimmy Butler essentially sabotaged a practice), and Thibs was fired midway through 2018-19. Minnesota would have to wait until 2022 to make the playoffs again.
The New York Knicks are coming off their most successful season in 25 years. Despite that, Thibodeau was fired as head coach of the squad after the season. With the Knicks going through a massive midseason swoon, many in their fanbase who believed Thibs needed to be canned are having second thoughts.
The Knicks are playing horrible basketball
This was supposed to be the Knicks’ year to finally break through and reach the NBA finals. It still could be, but the current malaise they are going through would have to undergo a serious change. NY fell to 2-9 in their last 11 games and got showered with boos at times at MSG on Monday in their loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
That dropped their record to 25-18. While they are still third in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks sit just 1.5 games ahead of the seventh-place Cleveland Cavaliers. All the good vibes from their strong start this season and winning the NBA Cup have dissipated.
The defense has been atrocious under Brown, especially since the world got ready for the ball to drop for 2026. The only two teams they have a better defensive rating than them since December 31 are the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz. Those two teams are a combined 26-58 on the season.
Fans weren't fond of him overtaxing his starters
Much of the Knicks fans’ displeasure with Thibodeau was that he played his starters extended minutes and kept them in until late in games that seemed out of hand. They believe the team tired out in their two series against the Indiana Pacers, and it was too late when Thibs decided to extend their rotation by playing Landry Shamet and Delon Wright.
So, despite the Knicks reaching their first conference finals since 2000, many believed it was the right move to fire him.
The Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau after their most successful season this century remains hard to explain.
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) January 20, 2026
Even though Minnesota made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years under Thibodeau, its fans also had the same concerns. Their normal starting lineup in the 2017-18 season (Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Taj Gibson, Jeff Teague) all played at least 33 minutes per game that season. They lost their opening round matchup to the Houston Rockets in five games.
There certainly is a section of Wolves fans who aren’t fond of current head coach Chris Finch. Minnesota can at least say it has found a way to improve the team post-Thibodeau. Meanwhile, the Knicks have 39 games left in the regular season to get back on track heading into the playoffs.