Insider Suggests 2-Time Champ, Longest-Tenured NBA Coach as Knicks' Next Leader

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 8:19 AM ET

The New York Knicks appear to have fired head coach Tom Thibodeau absent an adequate plan to replace him, and the embarrassments have racked up in the aftermath.

In just a matter of days, five competing teams around the league have denied requests from the Knicks to interview their current head coaches: Dallas Mavericks-Jason Kidd, Houston Rockets-Ime Udoka, Minnesota Timberwolves-Chris Finch, Chicago Bulls-Billy Donovan and Atlanta Hawks-Quin Snyder, per The Athletic.

Considering all the swings and misses thus far, Zach Lowe of The Ringer suggested on the Thursday, June 12 edition of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" that the Knicks reach out to the Miami Heat and inquire about interviewing head coach Erik Spoelstra -- widely considered among the best in the league for the last several years.

"If you were Leon Rose, or whoever is making the calls ... would you even have the guts, the gall, the audacity to call Pat Riley?" Lowe asked Simmons. "Just to do it. Like, 'Hey, we gotta check the [Spoelstra] box. We gotta see. Don't we have to see?'"

Spoelstra is now the longest-tenured head coach in the NBA after Gregg Popovich left his job leading the San Antonio Spurs' sideline earlier this year following a serious health concern.

The Heat hired Spoelstra in April 2008. He has led Miami to six appearances in the NBA Finals and two championship rings over his 17 years at the helm, amassing a career regular-season record of 787-572.

While Miami struggled to earn a spot in the first round of playoffs this season, fighting its way to the No. 8 overall seed via the NBA's Eastern Conference play-in tournament only to get swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games, the Knicks earned a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York fell two games shy of an NBA Finals appearance, losing to the Indiana Pacers 4-2. The Pacers currently lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1 with Game 4 of scheduled for Friday, June 13, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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