Tom Thibodeau’s extension may be his final contract with the Knicks.
The New York Knicks are thrilled to have Tom Thibodeau remain their head coach for another three years after signing him to an extension earlier this week.
At 66 years old, Thibodeau has spent four years with the Knicks, leading the team to the postseason three times. His accomplishments have certainly justified the extension, but it might very well be the last contract he signs in his coaching career.
When Thibodeau joined the Knicks in 2020, it marked a significant moment for the long-time coach and assistant.
“Thibodeau’s hiring as head coach of the Knicks in 2020 was a full-circle moment in his life,” ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski noted. “Growing up in New Britain, Connecticut, his father, Thomas Sr., became a Knicks fan because Eddie Donovan—the coach at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure—left to become the coach and GM of the Knicks. Thomas Sr. introduced his son to Knicks fandom at a young age, and Thibodeau later served as an assistant coach under Jeff Van Gundy from 1996 to 2003.”
Landing the head coaching job with the Knicks was a dream come true for Thibodeau, and it’s difficult to imagine him wanting a different position. Not only does he coach the team he has loved since childhood, but he also has them competing for a championship—the franchise’s first in over 50 years. He has four years left (one remaining on his current contract and three on the extension) to bring the Knicks to that pinnacle.
By the end of this deal, Thibodeau will be 70 years old, which isn’t necessarily a cutoff age for coaches, but very few, aside from Gregg Popovich, last this long in the league. While he may wish to continue coaching, it’s hard to envision the Knicks offering him another contract if they haven’t secured a title by that time.
Thibodeau took over a struggling Knicks team that missed the COVID-19 bubble and has since elevated them to new heights. However, both the Knicks and Thibodeau now face expectations.
The only scenario in which Thibodeau might sign a new contract would be if the Knicks win a championship and he still desires to coach into his 70s.
