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Knicks Requests to Interview 2 Rival Head Coaches Rejected

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 12:28 AM ET

The New York Knicks' overtures to speak with the head coaches of two rival playoff squads have been rejected.

New York recently relieved five-year head coach Tom Thibodeau of his duties, after he had led the club to its most successful season in a quarter century, a 51-win stint that ended in a six-game Eastern Conference Finals defeat to the Indiana Pacers.

Under Thibodeau, the Knicks posted an impressive 226-174 regular season record, making the playoffs in four of their five seasons.

Thibodeau's Knicks squads went 24-23 in the playoffs, and won four playoff series, amidst consistent roster churn.

Just prior to training camp this season, New York imported five-time All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, after having added All-Defensive Team swingman Mikal Bridges earlier in the 2024 offseason.

Thibodeau leaned heavily on his starting five during the 2024-25 regular season, before finally expanding his rotation during the postseason. Some critical fans — and, fatally, Knicks decision makers in the front office and ownership group — grew frustrated with the 67-year-old Thibodeau's perceived overreliance on a finite rotation.

Still, Thibodeau got a lot out of his squads, and helped raise the ceiling of a franchise that had struggled to enjoy consistent success this century prior to his arrival.

Now, it appears that the Knicks are aiming to make a splash with their next hire, targeting a few head coaches currently on long-term deals with playoff teams.

Sources inform Shams Charania of ESPN that New York asked to interview with Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch about their new head coaching vacancy.

The New York Knicks requested permission to speak to Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka for their head coaching job, but were denied on both, sources tell ESPN. Knicks could request permission for other current head coaches too.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025

Finch, 55, has been serving as Minnesota's head coach since midway through All-NBA superstar shooting guard Anthony Edwards' 2020-21 rookie season. He boasts a 209-160 overall regular season record, and a 21-21 playoff record. Finch has guided the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals in each of the past two postseasons.

Udoka, 47, has been in Houston since 2023. He owns a 93-71 regular season record with the Rockets and led the franchise to its first playoff stint this spring, a seven-game first series loss to the Golden State Warriors.

During his one-and-done season coaching the Boston Celtics, Udoka in 2021-22, Udoka guided Boston to a 51-31 record and an NBA Finals berth... where the Celtics fell to the Warriors.

Provided Udoka doesn't have to play Golden State in the postseason, he seems to have plenty of upside on the hardwood.

Charania adds that the Knicks have yet to reach out to ex-New York point guard Jason Kidd, currently the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.

The Knicks have not requested permission for Mavericks coach Jason Kidd as of Tuesday night, but sources tell ESPN that the Mavericks would reject them. https://t.co/5oSSGQb0x4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025