New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has reportedly received support from key figures within the organization following the team’s exit from the Eastern Conference Finals. According to insights from Moneyline's James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz, Thibodeau retains the backing of team president Leon Rose, as well as strong endorsement from star guard Jalen Brunson. However, it is noted that the final decision regarding Thibodeau’s coaching status will rest with team governor James Dolan.

In a postgame press conference, Brunson expressed his confidence in Thibodeau, affirmatively responding to questions about whether the coach remains the right person for the team. Unlike the previous season, where coaching decisions regarding rotations were heavily scrutinized due to player injuries, the Knicks fielded a complete roster during their playoff run. This has made it difficult to attribute the team’s performance solely to coaching decisions, especially regarding their defensive weaknesses.

Edwards and Katz further reported that opposing teams exploited certain defensive matchups, particularly when Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were both on the court. This defensive inconsistency became a point of internal frustration. Furthermore, Thibodeau faces a challenging landscape for roster improvement, as Rose's significant acquisitions last summer, including Towns and Mikal Bridges, limited available pathways for enhancement. With constrained draft capital and payroll flexibility, the prospect of trading key defensive assets is complicated. This situation leaves the possibility of changing the coaching staff as a lever for Rose and Dolan to pursue different outcomes, although Thibodeau's departure is not seen as inevitable.

The prospect of Thibodeau’s exit would not be entirely surprising given the circumstances. Nevertheless, his previous backing by the organization suggests that any move would be weighed carefully as the Knicks assess their future direction.