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Why Tom Thibodeau makes zero sense for the Phoenix Suns

June 3, 2025 by Bright Side Of The Sun

Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks - Game Five
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

You can’t spell Thibodeau without “hide”…

So you say you want a new head coach, eh? Well, wouldn’t you know it? A fresh name just hit the market, and suddenly there’s another team crashing the Phoenix Suns’ head coaching search party. That’s right. Fresh off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, and after losing in six to the Indiana Pacers, the New York Knicks have cut ties with Tom Thibodeau. Yep. The 67-year-old sideline stalker with 13 years of head coaching mileage is now officially unemployed.

BREAKING: The New York Knicks are relieving Tom Thibodeau of his duties as head coach, sources tell ESPN. Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first East Finals in 25 years, made playoffs in 4 of 5 years and led Knicks to consecutive 50+ win seasons for first time since the 1990s. pic.twitter.com/B7w8KhoEcF

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 3, 2025

And you can hear the murmurs already. Suns fans, you’re wondering it. Should Phoenix pick up the phone? Should they make a hard left turn from this carefully crafted, methodical process and chase a name-brand coach with a playoff pedigree?

Here’s the thing: it’s probably too late for that. The Suns have already grilled upwards of 20 candidates, whittling it down to two finalists — Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant — with a decision expected any day now. Does Thibs’ sudden availability make them flinch? Should it?

I wouldn’t bet on it. And honestly, I wouldn’t want them to.

Look, this isn’t exactly a plot twist. Thibodeau’s had one foot out the Garden door for a couple of seasons. The only thing that kept him around was Jalen Brunson playing out of his mind and dragging that roster deeper into the postseason than it probably had any business going. But when a defensive guru’s team gets shredded on the defensive end in the East Finals, well, the clock runs out fast.

And even with his résumé, Thibodeau in Phoenix feels like a move out of an old playbook. Another retread. Another hard-nosed, scheme-first coach trying to jam square pegs into round holes while struggling to build meaningful connections with his players. We’ve seen it. Vogel. Budenholzer. Same story, different clipboard.

The Suns don’t need that. Not now.

What they need is a young, hungry basketball mind. Somebody who can connect with this generation of players, build a culture, and — wild idea here — actually stick around long enough to see a plan through. Somebody who isn’t just a stopgap, but a builder. A foundation-layer. Someone we can look back on a decade from now and say, that’s where it all started.

So yeah, Thibodeau’s out there. Let him be. The Suns are on a different road now. And for the first time in a while, it feels like the right one.

Stay the course.


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