"I Was Bitter": Fired Knicks Coach's Family Member Shares Emotional Farewell After Jalen Brunson & Co Deliver Championship

When people remember the New York Knicks' 2026 title, part of the conversation will revolve around the series of moves that ultimately led to it. Some fans will point to the signing of Jalen Brunson in 2022. Others might say that it's the other moves that came after.

One of those moves was the decision to part ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau. That decision was made in June 2025, after the Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

His firing would then lead to uncertainty for another staff member, Nicholas Thibodeau. Nicholas is Tom's nephew and was also the Knicks' assistant video coordinator from August 2024 to September 2025, per his LinkedIn account.

Even though he is no longer a member of the organization, Nicholas penned an emotional goodbye to New York, detailing the roller coaster of emotions he went through after Tom was let go.

"A year ago, on June 3, I was hurt. I was confused. I was bitter," he wrote in a LinkedIn post. "I knew I was likely going to lose a job at a place where we had experienced success together and where I had built relationships that I'll value for the rest of my life."

"Fast forward one year: the New York Knicks are NBA Champions," he continued. "When the final buzzer sounded, I felt a flood of emotions. But as the days passed, those emotions gave way to something much greater: gratitude."

He went on to write about how he felt happiness for the Knicks and the people who worked there. Then he said he missed the people who worked behind the scenes to help the team reach the top of the NBA mountain.

Nicholas would conclude his message by thanking and congratulating the organization and the people he worked with during his time there.

Nicholas is still a part of the NBA fraternity, but is working for a different organization.

Since September 2025, he has worked as a Basketball Operations Assistant for the Greensboro Swarm. The G-League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets.

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart Have Defended Tom Thibodeau in the Past

Tom Thibodeau is regarded as one of the NBA's better defensive-minded coaches. However, he has also been heavily criticized for relying heavily on his starters and underutilizing his bench.

Throughout all the criticism he received, and even when the team lost, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart remained as his staunch defenders.

After New York was eliminated from playoff contention in 2015, a media member asked Brunson whether he believed Thibodeau could still help the Knicks reach the next level.

Brunson first responded by asking if that was a real question, almost treating the inquiry with indignation.

"You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes." Brunson said. Soon after that interaction, though, the Knicks fired Thibodeau.

After he was fired, Brunson and Hart continued raving about and defending him as a coach, even as some people celebrated the move.

Josh Hart credited him for elevating New York and building a winning foundation that he cultivated over five seasons. Brunson then gave him props, crediting Thibodeau for helping him become an NBA All-Star.

It has become difficult to debate whether replacing Thibodeau with Mike Brown is the right move. After all, Brown coached the franchise to its first title in 53 years.

However, the work Thibodeau put into shaping the team's stars into championship-worthy players can't be discounted.