James Dolan’s Controversial $30M Thibodeau Firing Has Paid Off

Knicks owner James Dolan’s controversial decision to change coaches a year ago has paid off. 

On Monday, the Knicks completed their sweep of the Cavaliers to clinch their first NBA Finals berth since 1999. They will play either the Spurs or defending champion Thunder for a chance to win their first NBA title since 1973. 

New York did so behind first-year coach Mike Brown, who was hired after Dolan fired Tom Thibodeau last season after five years. Thibodeau helped pull the Knicks out of mediocrity and led the team to its first back-to-back 50-win seasons in decades and its first conference finals appearance since 2000. 

At the time of his firing, the Knicks owed Thibodeau roughly $30 million from an extension he signed the previous season. New York hired longtime coach Mike Brown to replace Thibodeau. 

“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” team president Leon Rose said in a statement announcing Thibodeau’s firing. 

Dolan later clarified that the controversial firing was his call in an interview with WFAN in January. It was Dolan’s first media appearance in two years. 

“We needed to evolve beyond the old traditional coaching formulas,” Dolan said. “And we tried to work that with Tom. And it really wasn’t his thing.”

Dolan has been accused of interfering in the Knicks’ basketball operations over the years and even admitted to overreacting as an owner when he appeared on Jalen Brunson’s and Josh Hart’s podcast.

“There were times when [we’ve] sort of reached for that shiny, sparkly object,” Dolan said in March 2025. “‘Maybe this is what we need.’ Especially when things weren’t going well. Let’s bring in this guy and maybe he’ll turn it all around for us.’ Sometimes it’s players, sometimes it’s a coach.”

But Dolan has been aggressive. The team’s $207 million payroll is the second highest in the NBA, and this current roster was constructed primarily through the signing of Brunson and multiple blockbuster trades for OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

New York finished the regular season as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 53–29 record, but it has been on a historically dominant hot streak in the playoffs. After falling behind 2–1 to the Hawks, the Knicks have won 11 straight games, many of them blowouts. 

Dolan’s decision to fire Thibodeau has been justified. Now he has the chance to look prophetic. 

While on WFAN in January, Dolan said the expectation is for his team to win the title. 

“We want to get to the Finals and we should win the Finals,” said Dolan. “This is sports, this is business and anything can happen, but getting to the Finals, we absolutely got to do. Winning the Finals, we should win.”