Tom Thibodeau overlooked for Coach of the Year

The NBA has revealed the finalists for the 2023-24 Coach of the Year, but Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks was notably absent from the list. Despite the Knicks securing a 50-32 record and the second seed in the Eastern Conference, overcoming significant injuries to key players, Thibodeau was puzzlingly ignored.

This year’s COTY nominees are Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Jamahl Mosley (Orlando Magic). Knicks guard Josh Hart expressed his dissatisfaction on X:

Throughout the season, New York faced injuries to Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and others, and personnel changes that included the trades of once-key players RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Quentin Grimes. Nonetheless, the team managed their best performance since the 2012-13 season. Thibodeau, skipper of the Knicks since 2020, has led the team to the playoffs three out of his four seasons here and is aiming for a deep run this year.

To be fair, Thibodeau has won the honor twice already. He received it in 2011 with the Chicago Bulls, his first year as an NBA head coach, when he led the Bulls to a league-best 62-20 record. He next won the award in 2021 as the head coach of the Knicks, after leading the team to a 41-31 record and their first playoff appearance since 2013. He is currently fifth on the list of wins by a Knicks coach. His 175 victories puts him behind Red Holzman (613), Joe Lapchick (326), Jeff Van Gundy (248), and Pat Riley (223).

In an article today at The Athletic, Fred Katz wrote a glowing piece about Thibodeau’s passionate coaching style and results. Despite being named the least desirable coach to play for in The Athletic’s latest anonymous poll, Thibodeau’s rigorous and detail-focused coaching has led to substantial success on the court. His commitment to excellence and ability to drive his team resonates within the locker room contrasts with his harsh reputation.

The Knicks take the court again tonight, up 1-0 in their first-round playoff series with the Philadelphia 76ers. With both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey listed as questionable on the injury report, the Knicks are favored in tonight’s matchup. Win or lose, you’ll see Thibs on the sideline with the same, familiar look, scowling as always.