Although it’s been a while since the Knicks fought significantly, anyone who has ever been a winner at Madison Square Garden has managed to maintain their favorite fan status of all their lives in New York. Whenever the Knicks head coach job opens, former point guard Mark Jackson and former coach Jeff Van Gundy receive support, but this time the leader is another former Knick, Tom Thibodeau.
Thibodeau was an assistant to Knicks from 1996 to 2004, first under Van Gundy and then under Don Chaney. While he has continued to make himself known elsewhere, Thibodeau is now a serious candidate for the job in New York. According to Newsday’s Steve Popper, he has a very important supporter in the Knicks tradition: Patrick Ewing.
“I think Tom is a great coach,” said Ewing. “I had the opportunity to make him part of the staff when I played and also work with him. He has been around for many years. He knows the game inside and out. He will do everything he has to do in terms of having his team getting ready to play every night. I think he would be a great candidate for that job. “
Ewing played under Thibodeau from 1996 to 2000 and worked with him on the Van Gundy staff in Houston from 2004 to 2007. Ironically, Ewing had previously expressed an interest in coaching the Knicks, although he now leads his alma mater , Georgetown. As such, he has no official title with the Knicks, but his word still carries weight among Knicks fans. Ewing is arguably the greatest player in the franchise’s history, and while he himself doesn’t work for the Knicks, it should be noted that former teammate Allan Houston, who also played for Thibodeau, is currently a member of the New York front office. and has firsthand experience of working with him.
The Knicks have interviewed a multitude of candidates on Zoom, and no hiring is imminent. Anyone who eventually hires, however, will have to connect with the city of New York to be successful. It remains to be seen whether Thibodeau could do this in the end, but Ewing’s approval can only help on that front.