Just one season ago, the New York Knicks were a rising team in the NBA, as they had claimed the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference and had shown tremendous growth in Tom Thibodeau’s first year as head coach. 

However, his second season in New York has not gone according to plan, as the Knicks are on the verge of missing the playoffs.

The New York Knicks have had a disappointing 2021-22 season given their success a season ago and while he has been on the “hot seat” as of late, the Knicks are expected to keep reigning NBA Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau as they prepare to enter the offseason, league sources tell NBA Analysis Network.

Thibodeau and the Knicks currently find themselves 33-42 on the season and struggling to make up ground on the Atlanta Hawks, who currently own the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference with limited time left in the regular season. 

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The Knicks hired Tom Thibodeau back in July 2020 in hopes that he could help turn around a struggling franchise with no identity. Very quickly, Thibodeau gave this team identity on the defensive end of the floor, as New York ranked third in defensive efficiency over the course of the 2020-21 season, and helping them go from twelfth to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, the Knicks’ head coach was named NBA Coach of the Year, barely beating out Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams. 

While his second season in New York has not lived up to the expectations the Knicks put on themselves after one year of success, Thibodeau does not appear to be the “scapegoat” for this franchise. What’s the latest surrounding the team as the offseason looms?