Despite leading the New York Knicks to their first 50-win season since 2012-13, head coach Tom Thibodeau was surprisingly omitted from the list of finalists for the NBA’s Coach of the Year Award. The three finalists announced by the league are Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic.
The Knicks achieved their impressive record despite a season plagued by injuries. Center Mitchell Robinson missed significant time early in the campaign, while forward Isaiah Hartenstein also dealt with multiple lower-leg injuries. The team’s frontcourt was further tested by the acquisition of OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors, who missed a month with elbow surgery and later re-aggravated the injury.
The biggest blow came when All-Star Julius Randle suffered a dislocated shoulder in late January, forcing him to miss the remainder of the regular season. Thibodeau managed to keep the ship afloat, with the help of stellar performances from Jalen Brunson, and ultimately secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Chicago Bulls in the regular-season finale.
Thibodeau’s omission from the Coach of the Year finalists list has raised eyebrows among some Knicks players. Josh Hart took to social media to list the coach’s accomplishments, while Isaiah Hartenstein praised Thibodeau’s ability to keep the team focused and make necessary adjustments despite the constant roster turnover.
In the Knicks’ Game 2 playoff matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, Hartenstein and Robinson managed to limit MVP candidate Joel Embiid’s free throw attempts despite playing significant minutes. Thibodeau emphasized the importance of discipline in preventing Embiid from getting to the line and credited his team’s defense for providing the necessary support.
