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[Saba Sports News] In a surprising move, the New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday despite his strong track record with the franchise.
Thibodeau had spent five seasons with the team, guiding them to back-to-back 50-win campaigns and their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. Nevertheless, the organization opted to move on—possibly with specific replacements already in mind.
According to odds released by BetOnline.ag, two names have emerged as frontrunners for the job.
Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone leads the pack with even 1/1 odds to become the next Knicks coach. Close behind is former Villanova head coach Jay Wright, who sits at 3/2.
Based on these odds, the race to replace Thibodeau appears to be a two-man contest between Malone and Wright. After those two, there’s a significant drop-off:
· Jeff Van Gundy: 6/1
· Chris Quinn: 7/1
· Taylor Jenkins: 8/1
· Danny Hurley: 9/1
Malone, 53, coached the Nuggets from 2015 to 2025, making the playoffs in each of his final six seasons and winning an NBA title in 2023. He was let go just before the end of the 2024–25 regular season. Malone also has prior experience with the Knicks, having served as an assistant from 2001 to 2005, and was immediately linked to the job after Thibodeau’s dismissal.
Jay Wright, meanwhile, brings strong connections to several current Knicks players. He coached Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart during his time at Villanova, where he led the Wildcats to NCAA championships in 2016 and 2018. Although Hart had moved on to the NBA by the time of the second title, his ties to Wright remain strong.
As the Knicks look to the future, it seems they’re choosing between familiar faces with proven winning pedigrees.