India, June 4 -- The New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, ending his five-year tenure after a 51-31 season and an Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported, citing sources. The decision, a shocker for fans, comes after three playoff appearances and a 2021 Coach of the Year award for Thibodeau.

With a search reportedly underway, Michael Malone and Jay Wright emerge as top candidates to lead the Knicks' talented roster, including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges. But who fits New York better?

Michael Malone, fired by the Denver Nuggets in April despite a 2023 NBA Championship, is a Queens native with Knicks assistant coaching experience from 2001. His 472-315 record with ...