Isiah Thomas Fired as Knicks Coach

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

Isiah Thomas fired as coach of New York Knicks


NEW YORK (AP)—Isiah Thomas was fired as coach of the New York Knicks on Friday after a season of listless and dreadful basketball, a tawdry lawsuit and unending chants from fans demanding Thomas’ dismissal.

Thomas, the coach for two seasons, will remain with the organization reporting directly to new president Donnie Walsh, a rapid fall for Thomas who also was team president a little more than two weeks ago.

Walsh said he informed Thomas of the decision Friday.

“It’s very difficult to be the coach and general manager,” he said. “Maybe it was too much.”

Walsh took over Thomas’ role as team president April 2, and his first big decision was to change coaches as he begins the process of turning around a team that never won a playoff game in Thomas’ tenure.

“I just believe a new voice, a new coach, is necessary to change the direction of the team,” Walsh said. “This is a coveted job. People want to coach here.

The Knicks finished 23-59, matching the franchise record for losses, in their seventh straight losing season.

“I can’t tell you really where we failed,” Walsh said. “The bottom line is we haven’t won, and the team didn’t look like it was motivated to try to win.”

Two of those 59-loss debacles came in the last three years, when the Knicks solidified themselves as the NBA’s most dysfunctional franchise with poor play on the court and embarrassing behavior off it.

This season alone, Thomas was found to have sexually harassed a former team employee, feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry — the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out.

Walsh wants a new coach in place by the draft in June, when the Knicks will finally have their lottery pick again after handing over their last two to Chicago in the Curry trade.

Walsh said he hasn’t talked to any candidates, but mentioned former Knick and current TV analyst Mark Jackson, and assistant coach Herb Williams as people who likely would be interviewed. He said he has no timetable to make his decision.

“Obviously, when you’re losing, there has to be a culture change,” he said. “There’s no easy answer. … We’ve got to work 24-7 to become competitive.”

And Thomas will be a part of that.

His new role with the Knicks does not have a title. Without getting specific, Walsh said there were assignments he’d feel completely comfortable giving to Thomas.

“I feel like some of the bigger events that happened on the way with Isiah overshadowed some of the good things” that he accomplished, Walsh said.

“I will be in touch with Isiah a lot,” he said.

Thomas is 187-223 as an NBA coach, leading the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs in three straight years from 2000-03. Larry Bird fired him after becoming team president, a move Walsh—who had hired Thomas as coach—was originally against but eventually went along with.

Thomas was hired as the Knicks’ team president on Dec. 22, 2003, and he acquired Marbury from Phoenix weeks later. The Knicks made the playoffs that season, getting swept by New Jersey, but haven’t gone back despite their annual spot atop the league’s highest payroll list.

Though the salary cap was already out of whack by the time Thomas arrived, he didn’t help matters with some questionable moves. He gave a $30 million contract in the summer of 2005 to center Jerome James, a career 4.3 points per game scorer who hasn’t been healthy or productive, and seems bothered by neither. A year later, Thomas used his mid-level exception on Jared Jeffries, who has limited offensive skills.

Still, Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan remained confident in Thomas, even making him coach in June 2006 after firing Larry Brown following one season. But that came with an ultimatum, as Dolan warned Thomas to show “evident progress” in one season or be fired from both positions.

The Knicks went 33-49 last season, but that was good enough for Dolan. He rewarded Thomas with a multiyear contract extension with more than a month left after New York moved into eighth place, but the Knicks collapsed under a series of injuries and missed the postseason.

Things went poorly this season from the time training camp opened.

The jury came back with its verdict that day, finding that Thomas and MSG sexually harassed former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders and ordering the company to pay $11.6 million in damages. Criticized by Al Sharpton and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer for comments he made in his taped deposition, Thomas seemed downcast during most of training camp—and never had much reason for better spirits when the season began.

The Knicks started 2-1, then dropped eight in a row as the Thomas-Marbury feud sent the season spiraling out of control. Marbury responded to Thomas’ plans to bench him by skipping a game in Phoenix, and the players reportedly voted to make Marbury sit out a game when he returned. Instead, Thomas played the point guard more than 33 minutes off the bench in a game in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

It soon became obvious that Thomas’ draft night acquisition of Zach Randolph had set back Curry, who lost his confidence and later his starting job. Speculation was rampant by Thanksgiving that Thomas’ job was in jeopardy, and it only heated up after the Knicks’ nationally televised 104-59 loss at Boston on Nov. 29.

Chants of “Fire Isiah!” sometimes started minutes after home games, and even Dolan’s strong relationship with Thomas couldn’t convince people the coach would last.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=At1ZOXZhirQuygg5zIj47L28vLYF?slug=ap-knicks-thomas&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Gee....what a shocker.

[GangstaBoogy]

Let's see how Knicks fans react. Firing Isaiah isn't gonna solve everything.

[Hatesrats™]

That's a start...Now what?
Will they Try and Trade Curry, Randolph, Marbury, Richardson....
& Build Your team Around Crawford, Nate?

David Lee is one of the only Players with trade value they have. (IMO)
Crawford is the star, but does he have trade value?

Knicks/Walsh have a fun off season.
Tho I can see them going after a B.Davis, E. Brand, Maggette, Deng, Gordon ect..

On a good note tho, They are another season closer to getting LeBron in Ny.
it's only a matter of time.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

That's a start...Now what?
Will they Try and Trade Curry, Randolph, Marbury, Richardson....
& Build Your team Around Crawford, Nate?

David Lee is one of the only Players with trade value they have. (IMO)
Crawford is the star, but does he have trade value?

Knicks/Walsh have a fun off season.
Tho I can see them going after a B.Davis, E. Brand, Maggette, Deng, Gordon ect..

On a good note tho, They are another season closer to getting LeBron in Ny.
it's only a matter of time.

What if he goes with the Brooklyn Nets?

[7even]

Great news. I hope his life goes downhill from there.

[Hatesrats™]

What if he goes with the Brooklyn Nets?

True...
Forgot about Jay-Z & LeBron.
(I read that article too...lol)

[jeromechickenbone]

LMFAO @ retaining Isiah as a consultant.  There is some super fishy shit going on in that organization.  I think Zeke got some dirt on some niggas.  He got that multi-year extenstion not even a year ago.  Gets bought out of that and then retained on salary as a "consultant" when he is completely incompetent in everything except for running the point.

He really fucked the Knicks up bad.  They are fucked for a long time even if he isn't their coach / pres.

[Antonio_]

His new role with the Knicks does not have a title.

Good for the Knicks.

[M Dogg™]

They were fucked up when they got Zeke. Only difference is Isiah traded their over paid classy under achievers for overrated egomanics. Before the Knicks lost but at least people could say, yeah our players suck balls but they stay out of trouble. Now you can say, they are talented, but man are they sorry. The Knicks have become the Oakland Raiders of basketball.

[the.SET]

Larry Brown in New York anyone?

[OG Hack Wilson]

the knicks were in just as bad, if not worse shape before Isiah got there

people forget how bad they were

problem is, they never improved.


he atleast upgraded the talent on their roster despite not winning more

[OG Hack Wilson]

Larry Brown in New York anyone?

haha they should tottttally do that.  that'd be hilarious.  especially since you hear they want to make MARK JACKSON coach...

he's the best coach available thats for sure.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Larry Brown already failed with the Knicks...

[G.F.G. Records]