Knicks' Jalen Brunson defends Tom Thibodeau as head coach of future: 'Is that a real question?'

When the dust finally settles from the Knicks’ season-ending loss to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, a considerable chunk of the summer chatter will center around the job security of head coach Tom Thibodeau.

The debates among fans and pundits haven’t cooled down. Some believe the veteran coach deserves another season to guide the Knicks’ current core, while others contend a fresh face sharing a new philosophy is needed for the franchise to finally reach championship heights.

Thibodeau’s seat isn’t as hot as it used to be — there were rumblings about his future back in April, before the Knicks faced the underdog Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. A disappointing finish to the 2024-25 season can’t erase their overachievements, and captain Jalen Brunson emphatically believes his coach is fit to continue leading the group.

“Is that a real question right now?” Brunson said after the Game 6 loss to the Pacers on Saturday night. “You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy? Yes.”

The Knicks didn’t play a disciplined brand of basketball with a long-coveted trip to the NBA Finals up for grabs. They comitted a whopping 93 turnovers across six games against the Pacers, and conceded 23.3 points on average from those blunders alone. Throughout the series, Indiana was tougher and more resilient.

Of course, not all fingers can be pointed toward Thibodeau for the Knicks’ shortcomings. His job is restricted to the bench and sideline. But there isn’t a single Knicks fan who could seriously argue Thibodeau coached a better series than Pacers veteran Rick Carlisle. In a battle of wits and scheme, it was practically no contest.

But the Knicks still earned their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with mental fortitude and timely starpower, and even Carlisle recognizes how Thibodeau has helped reshape the franchise’s image since assuming the head coaching job in 2020.

“The Knicks were an unreal opponent,” Carlisle said. “Tough-minded, always coming at you. After the game, they showed great class with all the interactions I had with those guys. I mentioned the job that Thibs has done there. He’s turned the culture completely flipped from where it was.”

Thibodeau, who turned 67 in January, signed a three-year contract extension with the Knicks last summer that keeps him with the team through the 2027-28 season. Only time will tell if he sticks around for the handful of seasons remaining on his deal.

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