Knicks Fire Thibodeau, 2026 NBA Championship Odds Improve

• The New York Knicks have fired head coach Tom Thibodeau
• The 2026 NBA Championship odds now list the Knicks as the second-favorite
• See the Knicks’ 2026 NBA title odds

The New York Knicks made massive waves in the NBA ocean on Tuesday when they fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after five seasons at the helm.

Thibodeau led the Knicks to three straight playoff appearances and four best-of-seven series victories but that wasn’t enough to save him. Sportsbooks have already posted 2026 NBA championship odds and the firing seems to be boosting their stock.

2026 NBA Championship Odds

The Knicks are currently the co-second-favorite in the 2026 NBA title odds, alongside the Indiana Pacers team that has ousted them from the playoffs in two straight seasons. Back on May 13, the Knicks were priced at +1400. Their new +800 odds represent a jump from a 6.67% implied win probability to an 11.11% implied win probability, which is a massive 66.6% increase.

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Realistically, most of the Knicks’ odds movement is due to Boston’s Jayson Tatum going down with a serious Achilles injury, which is likely to keep him out until at least March 2026. But the firing of Thibodeau clearly hasn’t hurt their chances in the eyes of oddsmakers.

Shams Charania first posted the shocking news of Thibodeau’s dismissal on X.

The Knicks both over and underperformed in the 2025 NBA playoffs. After beating the Pistons in six games as -425 favorites, they bounced arch-rival Boston in just six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals as massive +550 underdogs.

It seemed like Indiana did them a favor by taking care of East #1 seed Cleveland in the other semi, but the Knicks would go onto fall to the Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference final, despite entering the series as -150 favorites.

The Knicks now haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 1999.

Who Could Replace Thibodeau as Knicks Coach?

Sportsbooks have yet to release odds on the Knicks’ next head coach but rumors are already swirling. When Phoenix fired Mike Budenholzer after just one season, the names that amateur handicappers were throwing around the most were Michael Malone (former Nuggets HC), Willie Green (Pelicans HC), Chris Quinn (Heat AC), Taylor Jenkins (former Grizzlies HC), Jared Dudley (Mavericks AC), Johnnie Bryant (Cavs AC), and Jordan Ott (Cavs AC).

In alphabetical order, the Knicks current assistant coaches are:

• Andy Greer (NBA AC since 2001; re-hired by Knicks in 2020)
• Daniel Brady (2023 hire; first AC job)
• Darren Erman (NBA AC since 2007; hired by Knicks in 2020)
• Mark Bryant (NBA AC since 2004 with six different franchises; hired by Knicks in 2024)
• Maurice Cheeks (NBA AC since 1993; hired by Knicks in 2024)
• Rick Brunson (2022 hire; first AC job)

Of that group, only former NBAer Maurice Cheeks has been an NBA head coach before (Trail Blazers, 76ers, and Pistons) but he’s been working as an assistant since 2015. It’s unlikely any of New York’s current ACs will be credible contenders for the head coaching job.