Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau talks to guard Josh Hart (3) during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Knicks Star Rips Fans Celebrating Tom Thibodeau Firing

Originally posted on New York Knicks on SI
By Geoff Magliocchetti | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Josh Hart has no love for anyone celebrating Tom Thibodeau's ousting from the New York Knicks.

Hart has been active on social media in responding to Thibodeau's surprise firing, originally addressing the departure in a lengthy post-mortem on his "Roommates Show" web series. Some viewers were apparently a little too enthused about Thibodeau leaving and it clearly irked Hart, who addressed the haters in an X post shortly after the episode's release.

"All y'all talking trash about Thibs lame as hell," Hart said. "A different direction was taken but y'all should be appreciative for what he did for the team and organization."

All yall talking trash about Thibs lame as hell. A different direction was taken but yall should be appreciative for what he did for the team and organization
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 12, 2025

Hart came to the Knicks in the middle of Thibodeau's five-year term at the helm, as he was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers at the 2023 trade deadline. Thibodeau guided Hart to some of the best numbers of the his career, to the point where was a regular triple-double threat in this past season.

Such work with Hart, as well as other veterans like OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns and more, thrust the Knicks back into the realm of Association relevancy. The progress summitted with a run to the most recent Eastern Conference Finals, the franchise's first such showing since 2000.

Alongside Joe Mazzulla of Boston, Thibodeau is also one of two NBA coaches to oversee at least one playoff series victory in each of the last three editions. That was no doubt worth something to fans who enjoyed but one playoff series victory between 2001 and 2022 and Thibodeau also stands as the fourth-winningest coach on the New York ledgers.

Thibodeau's sense of stability was also most welcomed, as he was the first Knicks coach to reach his fifth season since Jeff Van Gundy did so in 2000.

This article first appeared on New York Knicks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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