Rick Carlisle Says He Thought Tom Thibodeau Knicks Firing News Was 'Fake AI'
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle initially didn't believe the reports about the New York Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau.
On the eve of the NBA Finals, Carlisle praised Thibodeau's work in New York and said he thought the stories about the coaching move were "a fake AI thing."
Beyond the fact the Knicks were two wins away from reaching the Finals, their best finish to a season since 1999-00, The Athletic's James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz reported Thibodeau appeared to maintain the support of team president Leon Rose and star guard Jalen Brunson.
Instead, Edwards reported along with colleagues Sam Amick and Mark Puleo that Rose determined a new voice was needed on the sideline. Addressing the move, he said the Knicks are "singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans." Clearly, the front office lost faith Thibodeau could get them there.
Coaches are pretty much hired to be fired. As Don Draper said, that's what the money is for. Thibodeau is owed more than $30 million by the Knicks after signing an extension with the team last year, so things aren't all that bad for him.
The NBA, in particular, seems to be giving coaches an even shorter leash than usual.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets fired Taylor Jenkins and Michael Malone, respectively, with the playoffs right around the corner. In the case of the Nuggets, they were only two years removed from winning a title with Malone.
Perhaps one byproduct of increased parity in the Association is that more owners and general managers are convinced they're on the cusp of contending for a championship, regardless of whether that's true. And getting rid of the coach is the easiest lever to pull when a team is perceived to be underperforming or hits a wall.
