Austin Rivers Has 'No Remorse' for Tom Thibodeau After Knicks Firing

New York's playoff success in 2025 was particularly stunning as it saw the team near a 3-1 series edge over the reigning champion Boston Celtics before All-Star forward Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon late in Game 4. The Knicks eventually prevailed in six games, but seemed to be on a trajectory for a series win even if Tatum had been healthy.

Prior to Thibodeau's arrival in 2020-21, the Knicks had only won a single playoff series in their previous 19 NBA seasons.

Speaking on his The Ringer podcast "Off Guard with Austin Rivers," Rivers spoke frankly about his understandable grievances with the way Thibodeau and Knicks general manager Leon Rose handled Rivers' quick tenure with the team.

"I'm not really a Thibs guy. I played for him, it wasn't the best experience personally, didn't treat me well at all," Rivers said. "First day of camp, this is a true story... [this is] my first time really talking to him since signing there," Thibodeau comes up to me and says, 'Hey man, excited for you to be here. I wanted Derrick [Rose], but you'll do great. You'll do great.' And he walked away."

Rose had been a three-time All-Star and had won MVP honors under Thibodeau with the Chicago Bulls before his career trajectory was permanently altered by ACL and meniscus tears. 

"And I remember thinking to myself, 'Hmm. Not gonna be here long.' Within a month or two, guess who's on the team? Derrick Rose. I already knew I was on my way out," Rivers said.

The Knicks acquired Rose from the Detroit Pistons in a February 2021 deadline deal. Rose ultimately played for Thibodeau in Chicago, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and most recently for New York.

"And the way it went down and the way they handled business was crazy, bro," Rivers revealed. "They brought me to a dark room, it was Leon [Rose], Worldwide Wes [Knicks executive vice president and senior basketball advisor William Wesley], and Thibs. They're all three sitting there in the dark, with like a little light, it's like an interrogation-type thing. 'Hey man, we're gonna move you, we just got Derrick here. Until we find the right spot with you, you don't have to travel with the team anymore.'" 

Rivers expounded on his alleged treatment by New York as he awaited a trade, initially from home.

"My [emasculated] ass had to call [Thibodeau] and ask him, 'Can I please travel with you guys, so I can continue to work out on my game and have trainers at my expense? I'll support the guys ahead of me, I have no problems [with that]," Rivers said. "I don't even know where they traded me to, traded me somewhere that was gonna waive me. They didn't even do right by me. They traded me to a team that wasn't even gonna use me. So that whole thing where they brought me in the room... [was untrue]."

Rivers finished his brisk Knicks run having averaged 7.3 points on .430/.364/.714 shooting splits, 2.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.6 steals in 21 contests (two starts).

"They don't do business the right way sometimes," Rivers said. "That's what I'm f---ing saying. I've been holding onto this story a long time. I got more but [I'm going to] hold back," Rivers said. "So when you fire Thibs, I don't have any remorse."