Mikal Bridges broke his silence during media day on the New York Knicks’ decision to part ways with Tom Thibodeau, offering a measured response while underscoring his appreciation for the veteran coach despite their well-documented disconnect.
Bridges on Thibodeau’s Exit
“Anybody losing their job — I’m a human first, always — so I feel for somebody going through that,” Bridges said of Thibodeau’s dismissal. “I always appreciated Thibs here, a great guy and everything. Always felt for him.”
Thibodeau’s firing came as a surprise to many around the league, given he had just guided the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. But according to a Yahoo Sports report, exit interviews with players exposed long-brewing frustrations with his coaching style.
“A couple of players felt like Thibodeau played the starters too many minutes and felt he had an inability to adjust,” the report stated. “Another player said he didn’t feel like he could play for Thibodeau if the coach returned next season.”
Tension Marked Bridges’ First Year With Knicks
Bridges, 29, averaged 17.6 points on 50% shooting with 3.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and nearly a steal across all 82 games during his first season with the Knicks. Despite his durability and production, the year was marked by flashes of tension between Bridges and Thibodeau.
“Sometimes it’s not fun on the body,” Bridges told reporters in March about Thibodeau’s heavy minutes for starters. “We’ve got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes … keeping fresh bodies out there helps both defense and offense.”
Thibodeau publicly denied having such conversations with Bridges, signaling cracks within the Knicks’ locker room. The disconnect was viewed by many as an early sign that Thibodeau’s tenure in New York was nearing its end.
Heroics and Highs Amid Strain
Despite the friction, Bridges shone in the postseason, most notably in the Knicks’ second-round victory over the Boston Celtics. His clutch performances became defining moments of the team’s playoff run, helping cement his status as one of New York’s cornerstones.
With Thibodeau out and Mike Brown taking over as head coach, Bridges is now expected to play an even larger role in shaping the Knicks’ future.
Commitment Beyond the Friction
This summer, Bridges doubled down on his commitment to the franchise by signing a four-year, $150 million extension that runs through the 2028-29 season with a player option for 2029-30. The deal also includes a trade kicker. By leaving roughly $6 million on the table, Bridges provided the Knicks with valuable salary cap flexibility under the league’s second apron rules.
“If I came here and preached how much I want to win, and tried to take every dollar and make it difficult for the organization, I’d just seem like a fraud, and that’s not who I am,” Bridges said on media day. “I want to win bad, and whatever it takes. … A couple more M’s won’t change my life, so it would be better to help everybody else out.”
Knicks’ Bold Gamble
The Knicks shocked the NBA last year by trading five first-round picks to acquire Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, a price many considered too steep for a player outside the All-NBA conversation. A year later, the move looks more justified: Bridges is locked in long-term, has embraced the franchise’s culture, and is helping reshape the Knicks into a contender.
Now, as New York transitions into the Mike Brown era, Bridges’ leadership and performance will be pivotal. The Thibodeau chapter is closed, but the spotlight on Bridges — both as a symbol of the Knicks’ gamble and as a player determined to deliver — has never been brighter.