From 2024-25, the Knicks reached 51-31, the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. New York has made its first appearance in 25 years to the finals of the conference.
However, the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. The Knicks lost games 1 and 2 and home and did not recover. Following the loss of the ECF, the Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau. NBA insider Ian Begley reported that the Knicks were denied permission to interview Chris Finch and Imeudoka.
Chris Finch and Ime Udoka aren’t the Knicks’ next head coach
Knicks refused permission to interview Chris Finch, IME UDOKA https://t.co/gixzz171dp
-realgm (@Realgm) June 11, 2025
After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks decided to say goodbye to head coach Tom Thimbodeau. He was in New York for five seasons. Thibodeau made four playoffs. Following Thibodeau’s firing, the team is looking for a next head coach. Several coaches around the league are being debated in rumours. Two of them are Chris Finch of the Timberwolves and Imeudoka of Houston.
Despite their interests, the Knicks have been denied permission to interview Finch and Udoka in their vacant position. Chris Finch has been Minnesota’s head coach for the past five seasons. The Timberwolves have played their second consecutive meeting final under Finch. He is 209-160 with 369 games as head coach. Houston’s Imedoka has been involved in two seasons of rockets.
He was the head coach of the Boston Celtics from 2021-22. Under Udoka, Boston traveled to the NBA Finals, but lost to the Warriors. Following that season, Udoka was released by the Celtics for behaviour that was harmful to the team. After a year away from the NBA, Udoka was hired by Houston and served as head coach for two seasons. Finch and Udoka are out of trouble, and the Knicks shift their focus to Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. We’ll have to wait if Kid will be parting as we head to Dallas and New York.
