Report: Knicks Interested In Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the New York Knicks are interested in Jason Kidd and Ime Udoka to be their next head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau.

Kidd coaches the Dallas Mavericks, while Udoka coaches the Houston Rockets. 

“Two head coaches who are not currently available but said to interest the Knicks, according to league sources, are Dallas’ Jason Kidd and Houston’s Ime Udoka,” Stein wrote. “One source with knowledge of the Rockets’ thinking told The Stein Line categorically that permission to speak with Udoka would be rejected if the Knicks requested it.

“A similar response would be expected from the Mavericks, but a read on their position as conclusive as Houston’s could not be immediately confirmed Tuesday night. Kidd has two seasons left on a contract extension he received during last season’s playoffs with the Mavericks in the midst of a run to the NBA Finals and with the Los Angeles Lakers expected to show interest in hiring him to replace Darvin Ham.”

Thibodeau was hired by the Knicks in 2020. He went 226-174 in the regular season and 24-23 in the postseason.

New York made the conference finals this year for the first time since 2000. Thibodeau and Co. lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. 

According to Ian Begley of SNY, Knicks president Leon Rose fired Thibodeau after meeting with his “top players.”

New York owner James Dolan was in the meeting as well. 

“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” 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. We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach.

“Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future.”