Knicks owner: Fired Thibodeau because he wasn’t fit to chase the championship; what we aim to raise is the championship banner

On January 6th, Knicks owner Dolan gave an interview to WFAN radio, addressing several subjects related to the Knicks.

Regarding the firing of Thibodeau, Dolan stated, “Our team had to undergo a transformation, essentially breaking the mold of conventional coaching. We attempted to collaborate with Thibodeau toward that goal, but it was evident that this wasn’t his forte.”

“I wouldn’t say winning a championship was impossible without Thibodeau—that’s too absolute. However, if you want the team to remain competitive long-term and consistently contend, you need a head coach who excels at fostering team cohesion. Thibodeau remains an excellent coach and deserves to continue in the NBA. If I were building a team from scratch, having him would be a treasure. When he first took over, that’s exactly what he brought—discipline, a tactical system, and he led us to where we are now. But honestly, to complete the journey ahead, the team needs to make changes.”

In previous trade rumors, the Knicks were often linked with Giannis Antetokounmpo. When asked about this, Dolan said he was unaware of any trade talks involving Giannis and, judging by his tone, the team had no intention of pushing for such a deal.

“At least I haven’t heard anything about it. We’re very satisfied with the current roster; the chemistry among players is excellent, and they get along well. I’ve never seen a locker room with such harmony—the whole team is full of energy. Leon Rose can veto my decisions anytime, but I believe we won’t make any major moves because we must continue refining this squad. I firmly believe this team has what it takes to win a championship.”

Dolan also mentioned that the Knicks will not raise the NBA Cup banner, as their plan is to raise the NBA Championship banner instead.

“We want to raise a banner, but it’s the NBA Championship banner. That’s the banner we intend to raise.”