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Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was taken aback by the news of the New York Knicks' decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau. His reaction mirrored that of many in the basketball community. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Carlisle expressed his disbelief about the Knicks' announcement, which came just after the Pacers' significant victory over Thibodeau's team in the Eastern Conference finals.

"When I first saw it, I thought it was one of those fake AI things, you know," Carlisle shared. "No way. It's no way possible. I know how the players feel about him too. There's not much else to say. Teams and ownership can make these decisions unilaterally. And it's their right to do that."

Thibodeau's firing adds to a growing list of unexpected coaching changes in the NBA. Earlier in the season, the Memphis Grizzlies let go of Taylor Jenkins while the team was holding a strong record. Following them, the Denver Nuggets dismissed Michael Malone just a short time after he had led them to a championship. Both Jenkins and Malone are now considered top candidates for new coaching positions, potentially even the newly available role with the Knicks.

Thibodeau's career has often been scrutinized, especially concerning his player rotations, yet his coaching skills are rarely doubted. Leading the Knicks to their first conference finals appearance since 2000, after defeating the reigning champion Boston Celtics, stands as one of his significant accomplishments. This progress seemed to be overshadowed by the Knicks' overall team construction flaws, notably the defensive weak points of All-Stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson.

Unlike with Michael Malone's situation, there were no major signs of discord within the Knicks' locker room. When asked about Thibodeau's future post-loss to Indiana, Brunson defended his coach, implying there was unity behind him.

Despite these factors, the Knicks pursued a different direction. In their statement regarding Thibodeau's departure, the franchise emphasized their commitment to winning a championship, stating that they did not believe Thibodeau could lead them to that goal.

Looking ahead, Carlisle is confident in Thibodeau's prospects. "Tom will certainly be fine," Carlisle remarked. "I don't think he's gonna have any problem finding his next job. It's just gonna depend on when he's ready to jump back in again."

The NBA community now watches closely as the coaching carousel continues, with Thibodeau and others navigating the turbulent waters of professional basketball.