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Rick Carlisle shares his blunt reaction to Tom Thibodeau’s firing

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 3:52 PM ET

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle had a typically strong reaction to the New York Knicks’ decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Carlisle, who is also the current head of the National Basketball Coaches Association, was “surprised” by the Knicks’ decision to fire Thibodeau, and questioned the organization’s decision. He added that he initially thought the news “was a fake AI thing.”

“Thibs went in and changed so much,” Carlisle said. “You look at all that and what happened yesterday, I thought (the news) was a fake AI thing. No way possible. I know how the players feel about him, too.”

A “surprised” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle on Tom Thibodeaux’s firing from New York: “Thibs went in and changed so much. You look at all that and what happened yesterday, I thought (the news) was a fake AI thing. No way possible. I know how the players feel about him, too.”
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 4, 2025

Many around the league would likely echo Carlisle’s sentiments. Thibodeau has been the most successful Knicks coach in recent memory, and many questioned why the team would part ways with someone who has been able to win in New York.

As a representative of the league’s coaches, Carlisle is a frequent critic of what he sees as premature or absurd firings, and he has not exactly been complimentary of the Knicks in the past. The irony is he may have played a role in costing Thibodeau the job.

There are two names that, at least according to betting markets, are leading candidates to replace Thibodeau.

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

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