Tom Thibodeau cannot be happy after he was fired by the New York Knicks following a deep postseason run that exceeded expectations, but the coach is handling the controversial decision with grace.
Thibodeau took out a full-page ad in the New York Times on Wednesday thanking Knicks players, his coaching staff and fans for their support over the last five seasons.
While he included “everyone who makes this franchise special” as part of his acknowledgement, Thibodeau notably excluded owner James Dolan and other members of the team’s front office.
“To the best city in the world with the best fans in the world: Thank you.
“When I was hired in 2020, I said this was my dream job. I am grateful that dream became a reality. Thank you to our players and coaching staff who gave everything they had, and to everyone who makes this franchise special. I am proud of everything we accomplished together, including four playoff appearances and this year’s run to the Eastern Conference finals — our first in 25 years.
“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.”
