ESPN’s Dick Vitale Urges Knicks to Hire Tom Thibodeau Again After 'Embarrassing' Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Knicks terminated former head coach Tom Thibodeau’s contract on June 3 following the team being eliminated from the Eastern Conference finals by the Indiana Pacers 4-2.

Former Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is thanking fans for their support following his surprising firing last week​.

New York, which fired Tom Thibodeau after losing the Eastern Conference finals in six games, has been on the hunt for a new head coach but has been denied by at least five teams — including the Mavericks for permission to talk to coach Jason Kidd.

Thibodeau's tenure culminated in a run to the Eastern Conference Finals this spring, where the 51-win Knicks fell in six games to the Indiana Pacers. Now, Indiana has built out a surprise 2-1 edge over the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.