On Tuesday, the New York Knicks shocked the NBA world by firing head coach Tom Thibodeau just days after he led them to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. Thibodeau helped resurrect the Knicks' franchise from laughing stock to contender over the last few years, but that wasn't enough to convince the team's front office that a change was not needed.

The Thibodeau firing drew a host of reactions from throughout the NBA world.

One person who wasn't thrilled with the Knicks' decision was popular radio host Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo, who took to “Mad Dog Unleashed” to relay his thoughts.

“This is about (James) Dolan,” said Russo, per Jimmy Traina on X. “Don't let anybody in America say, ‘ah, this is Leon Rose.' Nonsense… Rose and Thibodeau are tight… Rose doesn't have any power there. Dolan does. He sits on the baseline with a dopey hat on… he knows nothing. He's there because his old man was a brilliant businessman, and he took over. That's what this is all about.”

Indeed, James Dolan has drawn the ire of the Knicks fanbase over the years for some of the decisions he has made with the team, and as Russo noted, the relationship between Thibodeau and Leon Rose didn't appear on the brink of fracture at any point over the last few seasons.

A big decision for the Knicks

Article Continues Below
More New York Knicks News
Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego tries to calm down his team from the sideline during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center.
Knicks granted permission to interview ex-Hornets head coachBenedetto Vitale ·
Jamir Watkins Florida State next to New York Knicks logo. Madison Square Garden in the background, blue stripe at the bottom
Sources: Another Knicks 2025 NBA Draft target emergesKris Pursiainen ·
Arkansas Razorbacks Adou Thiero, William Wesley Knicks, Jonathan Pierre Belmont Bruins with Madison Square Garden in the background and a blue stripe underneath
Sources: 2 Knicks draft targets to keep an eye onKris Pursiainen ·
Leon Rose Knicks, Mark Tatum NBA, NBA Draft logo with orange background
Knicks rumors: Insider says he’d ‘bet’ on New York making NBA Draft-night dealKris Pursiainen ·
Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori looks on in the second half against the Dallas Mavericks during game two of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.
Knicks interview Timberwolves coach, but it’s not Chris FinchRexwell Villas ·
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks on during the time out during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Barclays Center.
Former Nets star Kevin Durant responds to Knicks jeer by saying he’s ‘Net for life’Erik Slater ·
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau (R) and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) look on during a stoppage in play against the Washington Wizards in the third quarterat Capital One Arena.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

While Thibodeau certainly deserves credit for helping revive the Knicks' franchise in the 2020s, there were some questions as to whether this group had hit its ceiling with him at the helm. Throughout these playoffs, Thibodeau made some puzzling lineup decisions, including playing Cameron Payne more minutes than most fans probably would have advised as well as making a jarring change to his rotation midway through the Pacers series, seemingly letting the outside noise influence his decision-making process.

The search will now begin for a new Knicks head coach, and already, fans have begun floating names like Michael Malone and Mike Budenholzer as potential Thibs replacements.

Whatever direction the Knicks choose to go in, it's clear that the team felt a change was needed.