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We knew this day would come.
The New York Knicks have interviewed Tom Thibodeau for the head coach position, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
Tom Thibodeau — the leading candidate for the New York Knicks coaching job — had his formal interview with the organization today, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2020
If you were hoping Thibs weren’t the leading candidate, the fact that Woj confirms it makes it seem all the more like reality. There have been rumblings that Jason Kidd might be gaining traction within the organization — though mainly because of his relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo and not because of any coaching acumen.
According to Marc Berman, the Knicks have already conducted interviews with Kidd, Ime Udoka, Will Hardy and Jamahl Mosely.
We all know the deal with Thibs at this point — he was named NBA Coach of the Year during his stint with the Chicago Bulls, but eventually fell out with management there. He took on dual coach/GM duties with the Minnesota Timberwolves, got them to their first playoff berth in a decade, but once again fell out with management. His famous ICE defense swept the league once upon a time, but has since grown out of fashion. He was a Knicks assistant under Jeff Van Gundy, a CAA client and supposedly tight with Knicks president Leon Rose.
Rose and the Knicks still have more candidates to interview, and plan to name a coach by the end of July.