Did Karl-Anthony Towns have role in Tom Thibodeau firing?

Did Karl-Anthony Towns have a role in the firing of Tom Thibodeau by the New York Knicks? Some suspect he may have.

The Knicks fired Thibodeau in early June despite the team having reached the Eastern Conference finals under his leadership this season. He went 226-174 in five seasons and made the playoffs four times. He helped turn the team into a strong player in the East again, as they had consecutive 50-plus win seasons.

So why did the Knicks fire Thibodeau? One NBA executive told Hoops Wire that he wouldn’t have been surprised if Towns played a role in Thibodeau’s firing. That executive pointed out that Towns was on the Minnesota Timberwolves when they fired Thibodeau in 2019. The same executive noted that current Knicks president Leon Rose was Towns’ agent as a player, suggesting Towns may have Rose’s ear. Lastly, the executive speculated that Thibodeau and Towns may not get along great because Thibodeau likes players who defend hard, which is a weakness for Towns.

A separate report has since suggested that the Knicks may have fired Thibodeau due to his lack of adjustments and an overreliance on Jalen Brunson.

The Knicks still have not hired a replacement coach, though they have been searching for one. They have been aiming high and trying to get many accomplished coaches interested in them. Jason Kidd is said to be in the mix for the job.