Austin Rivers Blasts Knicks, Says They 'Don't Do Business the Right Way Sometimes'

Former NBA guard Austin Rivers related Tom Thibodeau's firing by the New York Knicks to his own experience with the organization.

In the newest episode of Off Guard With Austin Rivers, the 32-year-old asserted the Knicks "don't do business the right way sometimes."

Rivers recounted (5:00 mark) how he didn't get a good first impression from Thibodeau, who candidly told him he had hoped to sign Derrick Rose instead. He knew his days were numbered when the Knicks acquired Rose in February 2021.

"I played for him," Rivers said. "It wasn't the best experience, personally. Didn't treat me well at all."

Rivers went on to say he was frustrated with how Thibodeau and team president Leon Rose indicated they'd try to get him to a good landing spot in a trade, only to send him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder, who were early in their rebuild, promptly waived him.

Based on how everything went down, Rivers said he doesn't necessarily feel sorry for Thibodeau but that the coach's ouster is reflective of wider issues with the Knicks.

On that last point, he's probably not alone in making that argument.

New York's head coaching search is making headlines for all the wrong reasons as Rose has been unable to interview candidates already hired to other teams. From the outside, it looks as though the Knicks fired Thibodeau without mapping out what would happen next.