Knicks Rumors: Tom Thibodeau 'Remains the Front-Runner' to Be Next NYK HC

The New York Knicks have 11 candidates for their head coaching vacancy, but Tom Thibodeau reportedly stands above the rest. 

Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reported Thibodeau "remains the front-runner" to be the Knicks' next coach. Thibs has been considered a favorite for much of the process because of his existing relationship with new Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose, a former agent with whom he has a strong friendship. 

Thibodeau coached the Chicago Bulls from 2010-15 and the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2016-19, compiling a 352-246 (.589) record. After posting five winning seasons in Chicago, Thibodeau struggled to reach a young Minnesota team.

The 62-year-old's lack of grip on the Timberwolves locker room played a significant part in his departure less than half of his final season after leading Minnesota to its first playoff berth since 2004. Karl-Anthony Towns told WCCO's Cory Hepola that the culture under Thibodeau was a "slap in the face" to young players. Towns  told Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic he had been held back to 40 percent of his talent level under Thibodeau.

While the Timberwolves have not improved from a wins and losses standpoint since firing Thibodeau for Ryan Saunders, it's clear they're playing in a happier environment. That falling out in Minnesota should be of concern to the Knicks, who are in the midst of a rebuild. 

Rose said in June:

"We want to find the right leader that can develop our young players, as well as hold everyone accountable and take us from development to becoming a perennial winner. We also want somebody that we think will be collaborative with the front office. Someone that when you're in that huddle, you're looking in that coach's eyes, every player that's looking at him knows that person is driving the ship and going to get the job done."

Thibodeau's developmental track record is shaky. While the Bulls team he took over in 2010 was young, it was a 41-41 team clearly on the cusp of taking a next step when he got the job. Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng got their developmental chops in under other coaches. Jimmy Butler was Thibodeau's crowned jewel of development, but Butler's wiring is not typical of an average NBA star and even he couldn't make a reunion in Minnesota work.

The Knicks appear to have whiffed on their lottery picks in 2017 (Frank Ntilikina) and 2018 (Kevin Knox), and 2019 No. 3 overall draft pick RJ Barrett is clearly steps behind contemporaries Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. With a top-five pick potentially coming in this year's draft, there should be a fair level of concern about Thibodeau's fit.