Report: Knicks interested in 2 Western Conference head coaches

The New York Knicks appear to be aiming high while looking for the team’s next head coach.

On Tuesday, news broke that the Knicks were firing coach Tom Thibodeau after five seasons with the team. The sudden coaching vacancy had several fans linking the Knicks to an also-recently-fired former NBA champion coach.

But the Knicks reportedly won’t limit their search to just available head coaches. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, New York has shown “interest” in two head coaches who are currently employed by Western Conference teams. On the Knicks’ wish list are the Houston Rockets’ Ime Udoka and the Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd.

The Rockets would “categorically” deny the Knicks permission to interview Udoka, per the report. While a similar response from the Mavericks was said to be “expected,” Stein noted that Dallas’ stance toward allowing Kidd to speak to New York has yet to be confirmed.

Kidd was among those who interviewed for the Knicks job in 2020 — a coaching search that concluded with New York originally hiring Thibodeau.

Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Johnnie Bryant were also mentioned as “likely candidates” for the job. Wright famously coached former Villanova standouts Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges when the trio played together in college from 2015 to 2017.

If all else fails, one infamous former Knicks player has offered to take the job as well.