Stephen A. Smith Was Not a Fan of the New York Knicks Firing Tom Thibodeau 🗽

When the news broke that the New York Knicks had decided to part ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, reactions came pouring in from all corners of the basketball world. But no reaction was more passionate—or more New York—than that of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. A lifelong Knicks fan and one of the most recognizable voices in sports media, Stephen A. did not hold back. In classic Stephen A. fashion, he blended emotion, logic, history, and frustration into a scorching critique of the organization’s decision.

“This is a damn shame,” he said bluntly on First Take, moments after the firing was announced. “Tom Thibodeau didn’t deserve this. Not after what he’s done for this franchise.”

Smith’s frustration was not just rooted in sentimentality or loyalty to Thibodeau, but in facts and context. Since taking over the Knicks in 2020, Thibodeau helped bring a long-dormant team back to relevance. In his first season, he led the Knicks to a 41-31 record and their first playoff berth in eight years, earning NBA Coach of the Year honors. He emphasized defense, effort, and accountability—qualities that had been sorely lacking in New York for years.

But after a rollercoaster of a few seasons—including injuries, inconsistent rosters, and some questionable front-office decisions—Thibodeau found himself out of a job. To Stephen A., that wasn’t just unfair. It was typical of what he sees as the Knicks’ long history of short-sighted decisions.

“How many times are we going to do this?” he demanded. “How many times is this franchise going to blame the coach, when the problem has always been the front office and ownership? Thibs gave us structure. He gave us toughness. He gave us credibility. And this is how you repay him?”

Smith pointed to the culture shift Thibodeau created—a team that, under his leadership, was no longer a league-wide punchline. Players bought in. The defense improved. The fans at Madison Square Garden had something to believe in again. After years of mediocrity and irrelevance, the Knicks were back in the playoff mix, even making it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals during one postseason run.

And yet, that progress wasn’t enough.

Many fans agreed with Smith. Social media was flooded with comments echoing his disappointment. “Thibs was the best coach we’ve had in years,” one fan tweeted. “You don’t fire a guy who makes you competitive in the East.” Another wrote, “Knicks gonna regret this. Watch.”

Critics of the move—including Stephen A.—also questioned what the Knicks’ plan is now. “Okay, you fired Thibs,” he said. “Now what? Who’s next? Another young assistant who’s never been a head coach? Another retread with no connection to the city? Unless you’re bringing in someone who can clearly elevate the roster—like a proven championship-level coach—this is a step backward.”

Smith has long had a complicated relationship with the Knicks. As a fan, he rides the emotional rollercoaster. As an analyst, he tries to be objective. But in this case, the two collided. For him, firing Thibodeau felt like another instance of the Knicks failing to appreciate what they had until it was gone.

“This man made Julius Randle an All-Star,” Smith exclaimed. “He turned a team of overlooked guys and role players into a top-four seed in the East. He made people actually want to come to The Garden again. You don’t throw that away unless you’ve got something better lined up. And I don’t see it.”

While it’s true that Thibodeau’s coaching style has its critics—some say he overplays starters, others question his offensive creativity—Smith argued that those flaws were minor compared to the identity and respect he brought to the franchise. “You knew what you were getting every night: hard-nosed basketball. A team that competed. That’s New York basketball. That’s Thibs. And now, we’re throwing it all away.”

The bigger question for Stephen A.—and many fans—is whether the Knicks’ leadership truly understands what it takes to build sustained success. “This isn’t just about Thibs,” he said. “This is about the Knicks never sticking to a plan. Never committing to a vision. Every time we get close to building something, we blow it up.”

That lack of stability has haunted the franchise for two decades, and Smith has been vocal about his desire to see a consistent, long-term vision finally emerge. He often talks about the importance of patience in a league that rewards teams who build over time—teams like the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat.

“You look at the best teams in the league,” Smith said. “They didn’t panic. They didn’t fire their coach every two years. They built something. That’s what we were doing with Thibs. But now? Back to square one.”

As the Knicks begin their search for a new head coach, the pressure will be immense—not just from fans, but from prominent voices like Stephen A. Smith who will be watching closely. Because in New York, where the spotlight never dims, every decision is magnified. And if the next hire doesn’t deliver results quickly, the backlash could be fierce.

For now, Smith’s message is clear: firing Tom Thibodeau wasn’t just a mistake—it was a betrayal of progress. “He wasn’t perfect,” Smith admitted. “But he was ours. He brought us back. And we just let him go like it meant nothing.”

Only time will tell if the Knicks’ gamble pays off. But if Stephen A. Smith’s reaction is any indication, this one is going to sting for a while.