Reports: Knicks Rebuffed on Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka Amidst Tom Thibodeau Replacement Search

The Knicks are not backing away from their extensive search to replace their former head coach, Tom Thibodeau ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season,

Reports: Knicks Rebuffed on Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka Amidst Tom Thibodeau Replacement Search

Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd and Tom Thibodeau (Image by FirstSportz)

The New York Knicks chose to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau shortly after their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers. This raised several concerns about his successor, with the Knicks considering Chris Finch, the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Other than Finch, Rockets’ HC Ime Udoka and the Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd have also been shortlisted by the Knicks.

The New York Knicks have requested to speak with coaches Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. Of course, the objective was to find out if either would be willing to switch teams. Unfortunately, both teams rejected the Knicks’ request.

According to earlier reports, the Rockets were not interested in playing a role that would allow Udoka to perhaps go for the Knicks. Udoka, who has a two-year contract with the Rockets, just finished a season in which he led the team to the fourth-best record (52-30) in the NBA and finished third in the NBA Coach of the Year vote.

Moreover, the Mavericks would not allow head coach Jason Kidd to interview with the New York Knicks for their open head coaching position, Charania added. According to Charania, on Wednesday, the Knicks requested the Mavs to talk to Kidd, but were dealt with a ‘firm rejection’ by the Dallas-based franchise. This comes as a huge blow to the Knicks’ management.

The Knicks have operated without a coach since they sacked Thibodeau a few days after the Indiana Pacers had eliminated them from the Eastern Conference playoffs. It remains to be seen which person they appoint to replace the former Knicks HC in the coming days/weeks.

Tom Thibodeau paid tribute to the Knicks fans in a recent public statement

A little over a week after being dismissed by the New York Knicks, former coach Tom Thibodeau thanked his players, coaches, and supporters in a full-page ad that appeared in The New York Times on Wednesday. Thibodeau reaffirmed that guiding the Knicks, whom he grew up supporting, was his ideal job in the commercial, which is the 67-year-old’s first public statement since being fired.

Thibodeau also paid tribute to the Knicks fans for his time at Madison Square Garden.

And to the fans, thank you for believing in me and embracing me from day one. Watching you support our team, and seeing the Garden ignite with that incomparable Knicks energy, is something I will never forget.

Tom Thibodeau said

For the first time since the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons, New York had back-to-back 50-win seasons under Thibodeau. Despite these great achievements, Thibodeau did not keep hold of his job after being knocked out by the Indiana Pacers in their first conference finals appearance in 25 years.

Shams Charania earlier revealed the Knicks’ failed trade move during the February deadline

As New York supporters naturally contemplate what their team could have done differently versus the Indiana Pacers, it has been fashionable to point out the Knicks’ shortcomings since Thibodeau was fired on Tuesday.

Insider Shams Charania provided precisely such a scenario during his appearance on ESPN Thursday. He disclosed that during the February trade deadline, the Knicks launched an offer for Kevin Durant.

The Knicks made an offer for Kevin Durant at the NBA trade deadline

Shams Charania said

On the one hand, considering Durant’s reputation as one of the greatest players of his generation (and still a formidable scorer at 36), this is shocking information from Charania. However, perhaps it shouldn’t be so shocking.

Just like the Knicks, Durant himself was seeking options to move out of the Suns’ side during the deadline, but failed to do so. The upcoming trade market will surely see Durant leaving the franchise with many teams interested in his signature.

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