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With their season finally over, the New York Knicks turn their attention to finding a head coach for whenever the hell they are going to kick off the 2020-21 NBA season. In a surprising twist, former Knicks coach Mike Woodson is going to get an interview, per Ian Begley.
In addition to Tom Thibodeau, Kenny Atkinson & interim HC Mike Miller, the Knicks are planning to interview former head coach Mike Woodson for their vacancy, per SNY sources. Woodson won 54 games with NYK in 2012-13 and won a playoff series that season, their only one since 2000
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 4, 2020
Woodson holds a peculiar place in Knicks history. He was the coach of the 54-win 2012-13 club, which featured perhaps the best office in franchise history. However, Woodson openly despise that team’s small-ball, three-point-heavy construction, and screwed around with the lineups at the worst possible time, during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pacers. He then coached the still-talented 2013-14 club like a dude who had never even seen a basketball game. Personally, I consider Woodson the best and worst coach of the last decade — ”best Knicks coach” being an extremely low bar, of course.
So why is Woodson, who worked as an assistant coach under Doc Rivers until 2018, getting an interview? He basically sold his soul to CAA in the summer of 2013, switching his representation to the agency and then favoring CAA players in 2013-14. CAA’s own Leon Rose is now the Knicks’ president, so they have a history.
I wouldn’t worry about a Woody reunion, however. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Tom Thibodeau is the heavy favorite to win the head gig.
As the Knicks season ends now, President Leon Rose will soon begin his search for a new head coach -- with Tom Thibodeau a frontrunner out of the gate, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020
I doubt Woodson has the kind of juice to unseat Thibs as the front-runner. Does Kenny Atkinson? Does anybody? I guess we’ll see soon enough.