NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Thibodeau brought the Chicago Bulls to their greatest success since Michael Jordan.He returned the Minnesota Timberwolves to the playoffs after a 13-year absence.All the while, there was one challenge he sought. He has seen what it's like in New York when the Knicks win and wanted to be the coach to make it happen again.“This a dream come true for me,” Thibodeau said. “This is my dream job.” He got it Thursday, when the Knicks brought the former NBA Coach of the Year back to the organization he helped reach the NBA Finals as an assistant.Thibodeau was an assistant with the Knicks from 1996-2003, part of Jeff Van Gundy's staff when they made a run from the No. 8 seed to the finals in 1999. He's had success all around the NBA since he left and the Knicks have had almost none, but that hasn't dampened his desire to come back.“Maybe part of that is I grew up in Connecticut. My father, my family, we grew up as Knick fans,” Thibodeau said during a Zoom press conference. “I... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Thibodeau is back in New York as the Knicks' new coach.The former NBA Coach of the Year was hired Thursday, returning to the team he helped lead to the NBA Finals as an assistant.“I know what New York is like when the Knicks are successful and there is nothing comparable," Thibodeau said in a statement. "I look forward to being a part of what we are building here and can’t wait to get to work.”Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Thibodeau, 62, is 352-246 in eight seasons coaching Chicago and Minnesota. He was the Coach of the Year in 2011 in his first season with the Bulls, whom he led to 50 wins in three of his five seasons.Thibodeau was an assistant to Jeff Van Gundy when the Knicks reached the 1999 NBA Finals. He reached the finals two other times as an assistant to Doc Rivers with the Boston Celtics, winning the 2008 championship. The Knicks have had almost no success since Van Gundy resigned early in the 2001-02 season. New York has won just one playoff series... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Thibodeau is coming back to the New York Knicks, who are still seeking the success they enjoyed when he was an assistant two decades ago.The Knicks are finishing a deal to make Thibodeau their coach, a person with knowledge of the details said Saturday.No contract has been signed but a deal is expected to be announced next week, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing.ESPN first reported that the Knicks and Thibodeau were completing a five-year contract.When they do, the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year in Chicago will become the 13th different person to coach the Knicks since Jeff Van Gundy resigned early in the 2001-02 season. Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford was told during his team’s scrimmage at Walt Disney World against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday that Thibodeau, his longtime friend and confidant, was going to get the New York job.“Look, he’s one of my closest friends,” Clifford said. “He’s one... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Thibodeau is coming back to the New York Knicks, who are still seeking the success they enjoyed when he was an assistant two decades ago.The Knicks are finishing a deal to make Thibodeau their coach, a person with knowledge of the details said Saturday.No contract has been signed but a deal is expected to be announced next week, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing.ESPN first reported that the Knicks and Thibodeau were completing a five-year contract.When they do, the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year in Chicago will become the 13th different person to coach the Knicks since Jeff Van Gundy resigned early in the 2001-02 season. Thibodeau was an assistant under Van Gundy, who led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals and into the postseason in every season he was there. New York has reached the playoffs just three times since Van Gundy's departure.The Knicks went 21-45 this season, missing the playoffs for a seventh... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Thibodeau is coming back to the New York Knicks, who are still seeking the success they enjoyed when he was an assistant two decades ago.The Knicks are finishing a deal to make Thibodeau their coach, a person with knowledge of the details said Saturday.No contract has been signed but a deal is expected to be announced next week, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing.ESPN first reported that the Knicks and Thibodeau were completing a five-year contract.When they do, the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year in Chicago will become the 13th different person to coach the Knicks since Jeff Van Gundy resigned early in the 2001-02 season. Thibodeau was an assistant under Van Gundy, who led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals and into the postseason in every season he was there. New York has reached the playoffs just three times since Van Gundy's departure.The Knicks went 21-45 this season, missing the playoffs for a seventh... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks are finishing a deal to make Tom Thibodeau their coach, a person with knowledge of the details said Saturday.No contract has been signed but a deal is expected to be announced next week, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing.ESPN first reported that the Knicks and Thibodeau were completing a five-year contract.Thibodeau was the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year in Chicago and is a former Knicks assistant under Jeff Van Gundy. New Knicks President Leon Rose conducted a long search before settling on Thibodeau. Mike Miller finished the season as interim coach after David Fizdale was fired 22 games into last season. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — William Wesley, known for his connections throughout basketball, has joined the New York Knicks as executive vice president/senior basketball adviser.A decision on a coach could be next, with the Knicks hoping by the end of July.New president Leon Rose announced the hiring of “World Wide Wes” on Wednesday, saying he has known Wesley for more than 40 years and considers him family.“He is one of the most well-connected and respected people in the basketball community and he will be a tremendous asset and resource to both myself and the New York Knicks,” Rose said.Rose worked closely with Wesley as a longtime player agent before he was hired by the Knicks in March, just before the coronavirus forced the suspension of the NBA season.It was expected since Rose was hired that Wesley would have a role in the organization, though it was unclear if it would be an official title because Wesley has often worked in the background.Together they will search for the Knicks' next coach.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Leon Rose took over as Knicks president on March 2, which should have given him a month and a half of season to evaluate his team.He got a week and a half.The Knicks played only six games before the season was suspended because of the coronavirus. There will be no more for them, because they are not among the 22 teams who will resume in Florida.So with another losing season over, the longtime player agent can begin making changes that can perhaps finally move the Knicks in a positive direction.The Knicks finished 21-45, extending the worst stretch in franchise history by missing the playoffs for the seventh straight season.The turmoil started early, even by Knicks standards. Coach David Fizdale was fired just 22 games into his second season and Steve Mills was dismissed as president in February. Mike Miller guided the team as interim coach after Fizdale's departure and had the Knicks defending and competing much better, but Rose is likely to search for yet another new coach.His... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Scott Perry will remain general manager of the New York Knicks after agreeing to a new one-year deal with the team Wednesday.Perry ran the team's basketball operations after Steve Mills was fired as president in February. Longtime player agent Leon Rose was hired to replace Mills on March 2, shortly before the NBA season was suspended because of the virus outbreak.Rose decided that his first big move would be to keep Perry for next season. The Knicks and Perry had a mutual option on his contract that needed to be decided by May 1. “Scott is a well-respected basketball executive who I have known for more than 20 years, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him as we look to build a winning team in New York,” Rose said in a statement.Perry's return was first reported by Newsday.Perry, who was hired by the Knicks on July 14, 2017, lasted through a turbulent season of change that included the firing of coach David Fizdale early in the season and later the ouster of Mills. He guided the team through the NBA's trade deadline, dealing veteran forward Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers.Rose will still have to make decisions on interim coach Mike Miller and other members of the Knicks front office.The Knicks were 21-45 when the season was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Scott Perry will remain general manager of the New York Knicks after agreeing to a new one-year deal with the team Wednesday.Perry ran the team's basketball operations after Steve Mills was fired as president in February. Longtime player agent Leon Rose was hired to replace Mills on March 2, shortly before the NBA season was suspended because of the virus outbreak.Rose decided that his first big move would be to keep Perry for next season. The Knicks and Perry had a mutual option on his contract that needed to be decided by May 1. “Scott is a well-respected basketball executive who I have known for more than 20 years, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him as we look to build a winning team in New York,” Rose said in a statement.Perry's return was first reported by Newsday.Perry, who was hired by the Knicks on July 14, 2017, lasted through a turbulent season of change that included the firing of coach David Fizdale early in the season and later the ouster of Mills. He guided the team through the NBA's trade deadline, dealing veteran forward Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers.Rose will still have to make decisions on interim coach Mike Miller and other members of the Knicks front office.The Knicks were 21-45 when the season was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Leon Rose has spent years as one of the NBA's most powerful agents.Now he will try to turn around one of its weakest franchises.The New York Knicks hired Rose as their president Monday, hoping he can sign and draft the kind of dominant players he's been representing. Rose is taking over a team headed toward its seventh straight season out of the playoffs. But teams such as Golden State and the Lakers have found success handing their basketball operations to an agent and the Knicks believe they can do the same with Rose.“Leon is one of the most respected executives in professional basketball, with decades of experience successfully working with NBA players and team management in all facets of the game," Madison Square Garden executive chairman James Dolan said in a statement. "We are confident he brings the right combination of expertise and relationships to ensure the long-term success of our franchise.”Rose, the former co-head of the basketball division at CAA Sports, replaces... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Leon Rose has spent years as one of the NBA's most powerful agents.Now he will try to turn around one of its weakest franchises.The New York Knicks hired Rose as their president Monday, hoping he can sign and draft the kind of dominant players he's been representing. Rose is taking over a team headed toward its seventh straight season out of the playoffs. But teams such as Golden State and the Lakers have found success handing their basketball operations to an agent and the Knicks believe he can do the same.“Leon is one of the most respected executives in professional basketball, with decades of experience successfully working with NBA players and team management in all facets of the game," Madison Square Garden executive chairman James Dolan said in a statement. "We are confident he brings the right combination of expertise and relationships to ensure the long-term success of our franchise.”Rose, the former co-head of the basketball division at CAA Sports, replaces Steve... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks clarified on Tuesday that the new adviser they hired to improve their brand makes no personnel decisions, after he indicated during a televised interview that they would hire a new coach.Steve Stoute, hired in part last month to improve the team's connection to its fans, was interviewed on ESPN on Tuesday and said the Knicks would be looking for a new coach, even though interim coach Mike Miller has a better record than David Fizdale when he was fired in December.Stoute said the Knicks' recent firing of president Steve Mills "will bring a new coach and new coaches that are going to help develop these younger players.”The Knicks fired Mills on Feb. 4 and plan to hire player agent Leon Rose as team president. In the meantime, Stoute hinted at changes that would be coming during his TV appearance.“While Steve Stoute is a valued contributor to the Knicks’ marketing and branding efforts, he does not speak on behalf of New York Knicks personnel and basketball... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks made a big move before the trade deadline — by getting rid of the guy who would have been making their deals.They fired President Steve Mills on Tuesday, shaking up the front office at a most unusual time.General manager Scott Perry will take over control of the basketball operations, with the team announcing that it would begin an immediate search for a new president just two days before the trade deadline.Mills has held a number of titles at Madison Square Garden since 1999, where he came after spending 16 years at the NBA. But this was the first time his role included full control of basketball decisions, and now MSG executive chairman James Dolan will look for someone else to do it.“I will always be grateful to Jim for giving me the chance to represent this franchise and I’m disappointed we were unable to achieve success for New York," Mills said. “I would like to thank the staff and the players for their hard work during my tenure. I will always... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks fired President Steve Mills on Tuesday, shaking up the front office just two days before the NBA's trade deadline.General manager Scott Perry will take over control of the basketball operations, with the team announcing that it would begin an immediate search for a new president.Mills has held a number of titles at Madison Square Garden since 1999, where he came after spending 16 years at the NBA. But this was the first time his role included full control of basketball decisions, and now MSG executive chairman James Dolan will look for someone else to do it.“I will always be grateful to Jim for giving me the chance to represent this franchise and I’m disappointed we were unable to achieve success for New York," Mills said. “I would like to thank the staff and the players for their hard work during my tenure. I will always be a Knicks fan.”Mills' firing is the second major change for the Knicks this season. They fired coach David Fizdale after just 22... [More]

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Marcus Morris talked tough in the preseason, when the New York Knicks made their annual boasts that things were going to be different.He spoke softly Friday, apologizing for his misplaced machismo on another night the Knicks embarrassed themselves on the court and in the locker room.Exactly a year after trading Kristaps Porzingis, it’s the same old basketball story in New York, nothing more than a rumored stop for superstars in the offseason, and the site of very little success in the regular season.The latest low point was Wednesday, when the Memphis Grizzlies rolled to a 127-106 victory in a game that featured an altercation in the final minute after New York’s Elfrid Payton shoved Jae Crowder as he was attempting a shot, and frustrated fans chanted “Sell the team! “Sell the team!” with owner James Dolan sitting in his baseline seat.Things got even worse afterward, when Payton said he’d do the same thing again and Morris mocked Crowder for playing with “female... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — David Fizdale was the latest coach tasked with trying to turn around the New York Knicks.He was given barely 100 games before the longtime losers decided it was time to try someone else.The Knicks cut ties with Fizdale and promoted assistant Mike Miller to interim head coach Friday after two straight blowout losses dropped them to 4-18,Fizdale ran practice earlier in the day, but was then fired along with assistant Keith Smart. The Knicks made no comment on the decision to release Fizdale after he went 21-83, a .202 winning percentage.The Knicks have lost eight straight games, with the last two by scores of 132-88 to Milwaukee on Monday night and 129-92 to Denver on Thursday night. They have the worst record in the Eastern Conference after finishing with the worst record in the NBA last season in Fizdale's first season.The Knicks went 17-65 in 2018-19 to match the worst record in franchise history and they are on pace to be even worse this season. New York missed out on... [More]

The Memphis Grizzlies traded away the final piece of the franchise's best years on Wednesday, sending veteran point guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz for a trio of players, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.The Grizzlies swapped Conley for forward Jae Crowder, guard/forward Kyle Korver and guard Grayson Allen, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither Memphis nor Utah has announced the trade, which cannot be completed until the new league year starts on July 6.Conley confirmed the trade on Twitter, thanking Memphis for making him the man he is and being his home."Time for another chapter! Excited to give all I have to The Jazz ...!" Conley tweeted.ESPN.com first reported the deal, which it says also includes Utah's No. 23 pick overall in Thursday night's draft.Conley was the final piece of the core that led the Grizzlies to seven consecutive playoff berths, including the 2013 Western Conference Finals. Zach Randolph and Tony... [More]

The Memphis Grizzlies traded away the final piece of the franchise's best years on Wednesday, sending veteran point guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz for a trio of players, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.The Grizzlies swapped Conley for Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver and Grayson Allen, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither Memphis nor Utah has announced the trade.Conley confirmed the trade on Twitter, thanking Memphis for making him the man he is and being his home."Time for another chapter! Excited to give all I have to The Jazz ...!" Conley tweeted.ESPN.com first reported the deal, which it says also includes Utah's No. 23 pick overall in Thursday night's draft.Conley was the final piece of the core that led the Grizzlies to seven consecutive playoff berths, including the 2013 Western Conference Finals. Zach Randolph and Tony Allen left in 2017 as free agents, and Memphis traded Marc Gasol to Toronto in February, splitting... [More]

F Mike Miller was not active for personal reasons.