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Knicks Threw Celebration Just Hours Before Tom Thibodeau’s Firing
© David Reginek-Imagn Images

Even though the New York Knicks were eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals by the Indiana Pacers last Saturday, the team still had a lot to be proud of. 

The Knicks' playoff journey had all the highs and heartbreak New York basketball fans have come to expect. After finishing the regular season strong, they took down the Detroit Pistons in a six-game first-round series. Then, they faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, winning the series in six games. However, in the Eastern Conference finals, they struggled to keep up with the Pacers and were ultimately eliminated in Game 6.

It was the first time in 25 years that the Knicks made the finals. 

On Monday night, the team partied it up at The Fleur Room, a rooftop nightclub in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, to celebrate their playoff run and strong season. Knicks stars Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Payne, PJ Tucker and more were all in attendance. Photos were shared with the New York Post on Wednesday evening. 

Despite the successful 2024-2025 season, the Knicks released a statement on Tuesday afternoon announcing that they fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, only three days after the end of the Eastern Conference finals. He was hired in 2020. 

"Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans," Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. "This pursuit led us to the decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction."

It didn’t seem like the Knicks or their guests knew about Thibodeau’s firing while they were celebrating Monday night. When the news broke on Tuesday, many players reacted with shock and took to social media to express their gratitude and support.

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

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