**Rick Pitino Expresses Sympathy for Tom Thibodeau Following Knicks Firing**

The New York Knicks jolted the basketball world on Tuesday by dismissing head coach Tom Thibodeau a mere three days after their exit from the 2025 playoffs. This move came as a profound shock, especially as the Knicks had just reached their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years under Thibodeau's leadership. Despite his occasional shortcomings, Thibodeau had managed to guide the team to the postseason four times in his five-year tenure, achieving consecutive seasons with over 50 wins for the first time since the '90s.

The decision to part ways with Thibodeau contributes to a tumultuous year in the NBA coaching landscape, with similar changes taking place with the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets, among others. The news resonated across the basketball community, prompting reactions from various quarters.

Rick Pitino, the esteemed coach of St. John's Red Storm and a revered figure in college basketball, voiced his support for Thibodeau. Speaking at Yankee Stadium before he was set to throw the first pitch on Wednesday night, Pitino expressed empathy. "I feel bad for Thibs because he captured all of New York, built something very, very special," Pitino remarked. He acknowledged the perplexity many feel over the firing. "A lot of us don't comprehend what happened, but Thibs is going to be well taken care of and he'll move on to other pastures."

In response to whether the Knicks' front office may have made a grave error, Pitino offered a measured perspective: "only time tells with those things. So we'll see."

Knicks' team president Leon Rose released a statement providing insight into the rationale behind the decision. Rose emphasized the organization’s unwavering pursuit of a championship as the key factor for the change. "We can't thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach," wrote Rose. "He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories. Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future."

During his New York tenure, the 67-year-old Thibodeau achieved a 226-174 record over five seasons and a 24-23 record in playoff games. While he's currently without a coaching position, it is widely expected that Thibodeau will soon find a new opportunity in the professional basketball arena.