Thibodeau is cited as stabilizing the team earlier, with commentary on his impact on defense and lineup decisions amid rising expectations and organizational scrutiny.

Thibodeau’s impact on culture and development is celebrated as a driver of team cohesion and readiness; his approach shapes offseason planning and player development.

Thibodeau’s exit ushers in a faster, more spacing-oriented approach under Brown, with reduced minutes compression and a greater emphasis on modernizing pace and three-point usage.

Thibodeau mentored Brunson and helped lift the Knicks toward competitive depth, but his firing followed an Eastern Conference Finals exit to Indiana, setting the stage for a coaching shift under Mike Brown.

Brunson notes the ongoing learning under Thibodeau’s legacy, while Brown’s arrival reshapes pace and defense. The shift is framed as a measured evolution from Thibodeau’s era toward more transition-driven, high-urgency ball pressure.