The New York Knicks made a bold and somewhat unexpected decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s rare for a team to part ways with a coach following such success—especially one who led the franchise to its deepest playoff push in over 20 years. But the Knicks believe their roster has championship potential, and leadership reportedly felt Thibodeau hadn’t fully maximized that ceiling.
With their sights now set on a title, the Knicks are pursuing top-tier coaching talent. Two names have quickly surfaced on their shortlist: Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. While Houston is reportedly unwilling to grant permission for an Udoka interview, no official word has come from Dallas about Kidd’s availability.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Friday that the Knicks intend to formally request an interview with Jason Kidd in the coming days. That could mark a major shift in New York’s coaching search—especially considering the Mavericks’ changing landscape. With Luka Dončić gone, a new front office in place, and the team landing the No. 1 pick (presumably Cooper Flagg), Dallas is entering a new era. The initial vision for Kidd—to mentor Dončić—is no longer relevant, and the Mavericks might be open to letting him walk.
Kidd may also view the Knicks as closer to winning it all, particularly with Kyrie Irving expected to miss much of next season. Should Dallas allow it, this would mark the second time Jason Kidd has been traded as a coach—the first being in 2014 when the Bucks sent draft picks to Brooklyn to acquire him after just one season.
If the Mavericks decline, the Knicks are expected to continue focusing on experienced former head coaches rather than assistants. That could potentially rule out Johnnie Bryant, despite his rising profile as one of the top assistants available. Names like Taylor Jenkins, Michael Malone, Mike Brown, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer are reportedly in the mix—all of whom bring recent head coaching experience, and three of whom (Malone, Vogel, Budenholzer) have won championships.
As for Jason Kidd’s kids, the family spotlight may follow him to New York if a deal goes through—adding yet another layer of attention to a high-pressure role in the league’s biggest media market.
