In addition to Tom Thibodeau, Kenny Atkinson and interim head coach Mike Miller, the Knicks are planning to interview former head coach Mike Woodson for their vacancy, sources told SNY’s Ian Begley.
According to Begley, some in the organization say David Fizdale had an interest in adding Woodson to his staff, but the idea was met with resistance elsewhere within the organization, according to SNY sources
Woodson won 54 games with the Knicks in 2012-13 and won a series of playoffs that season – their only one since 2000.
Interviews should begin once New York has clarified what will happen with the rest of the NBA season, with the expectation that a 22-team format that doesn’t include the Knicks will soon be approved.
As reported by Begley, agents and other coaches with an acquired interest in the search for the Knicks head coach believe Thibodeau is the most likely hiring if the new team president Leon Rose decides not to keep Miller as head coach.
Other candidates who have been cited as potential Knicks candidates include Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.
According to Begley, John Calipari should also not be ruled out – despite his public statements on the matter – because of his close relationship with Rose.
When it comes to a potential pursuit of Thibodeau, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks could compete with the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets, teams that have “a strong interest” in his services.
62-year-old Thibodeau, who was assistant to the Knicks from 1996 to 2004 (initially under Van Gundy), was assistant to the Houston Rockets (2004-2007) and Boston Celtics (2007-2010). He was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 2010-2015 and the head coach / president of Minnesota Timberwolves from 2016-19, where things ended abruptly.