Knicks Coach Among Award Favorites

Tom Thibodeau could win Coach of the Year for the New York Knicks.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 11, 2024

Apr 25, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers in game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is about to enter his fifth season with the team in his current tenure, and it could be the best yet if things go in the right direction.

Thibodeau, 66, led the Knicks to 50 wins last season, which was the franchise's best mark in over a decade. The record got New York to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and within one game of the Conference Finals.

In the offseason, the Knicks cemented their status as a contender by trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson to long-term extensions, solidifying the core of the team for the foreseeable future. Thibodeau also signed an extension of his own to lead the team throughout the next four seasons.

DraftKings released betting odds for the Coach of the Year award for the 2024-25 season and Thibodeau ranked fifth with +1300 odds.

Only Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets (+900), Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics (+1000), Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic (+1000) and Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers (+1200) had better odds.

The Coach of the Year is usually someone leading a contending team, and Thibodeau is expected to check off that box this season.

A good coach often is able to get a team to buy into a philosophy, and Thibodeau has certainly done that with the Knicks. Thibodeau has always been a hard-nosed, defensive-minded coach, and if last season was any indication, the Knicks have certainly adopted that mindset.

If they can dive in further into that mindset that Thibodeau has instilled in them, the Knicks will have an even greater chance of becoming true contenders and possibly earning the franchise's first NBA title in over 50 years.

Make sure you bookmark New York Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published Sep 11, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.