Knicks Denied In Requests To Interview Chris Finch, Ime Udoka For Coaching Job

The Knicks are seeking a coach after firing Tom Thibodeau after five seasons last week. Finch and Udoka are just two men reportedly on the Knicks’ radar. They’ve also been linked to Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, though reports are mixed on whether that interest is mutual.

Finch has coached the Timberwolves to back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Finals. Minnesota lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 conference finals in five games and fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in this year’s conference finals in five games. 

Finch is 209-160 in the regular season and 21-21 in the playoffs with the Timberwolves. New York’s interest was first reported by Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

Meanwhile, Udoka has never finished with a record of less than .500 as head coach of the Rockets and Boston Celtics. He guided the Celtics to a 51-31 mark and Finals appearance in his lone season, before taking over a young Rockets team. Houston went 41-41 in Udoka’s first season there, followed by a 52-30 mark this year.

The Rockets were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

As for Kidd, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that he doesn’t believe Kidd wants the Knicks job, either.

“I do not think he is looking to leave Dallas,” Stein said on the DLLS Mavs podcast. “He is very settled here. His family is very settled here. And he is very close with the two superstars (Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving) who are in place.”

The Mavericks have the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They are expected to draft Duke’s Cooper Flagg.