Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle Thought Tom Thibodeau Firing ‘Was One Of Those Fake AI Things’

But like the rest of the NBA universe, Carlisle said he was caught off guard by the sudden firing of New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau on Wednesday.

“No way. There’s no way possible,” Carlisle told reporters, via Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “I have great respect for Thibs. I go back with him a very long way. I was surprised.”

Multiple coaches and players have echoed Carlisle’s sentiments. The list includes Kevin Love, LeBron James, Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, and many more.

Carlisle went so far as to say he thought, at first, he was duped and that the Thibodeau news was the result of “one of those fake AI things.”

But this is the NBA. So many strange things happen — including the firing of a coach who led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals stop since 2000.

“I always say shocked — sometimes you get numb and you’re not shocked,” Carlisle said. “The Knicks have such a unique situation with so much attention and such a large fan base and such a worldwide following, it’s one of the most difficult jobs to take. The guys that have been most successful, Red Holzman, Pat Riley, Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Pitino, had a short run but a very effective run.

“There were a lot of lean years,” Carlisle continued. “Thibs went in there and changed so much.”