It seems that the era of NBA coaches ruling with an iron fist is coming to an end. Just before the playoffs began, the Denver Nuggets let go of Michael Malone, even though he’d delivered a championship less than two years ago. Earlier this week, the New York Knicks also parted ways with Tom Thibodeau, despite him guiding the team to its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years.
I don’t think either of these firings was justified. To me, they highlight an increasingly obvious trend in today’s NBA: the days of coaches acting as tough, no-nonsense leaders who demand excellence from their players appear to be over. That approach doesn’t really work anymore. Now, it’s all about being a “player’s coach.”
In this new NBA landscape, making sure players are happy has become almost mandatory
I get it—coaches and players should work well together. In any workplace, success depends on good relationships. But in today’s NBA, it feels like a coach’s job depends more on keeping the star players satisfied than on any traditional measure of success. I’m not suggesting that Thibodeau was fired for clashing with players; in fact, he seemed to have a great relationship with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the rest of the team. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jalen Brunson was asked for his opinion before the front office made this move.
It’s clear that the “coach’s coach” is no longer in demand
When players are ready to move on from a coach, the front office is likely to side with them. Malone and Thibodeau’s firings are just the latest signs that the gruff, demanding coach who sets the tone for the entire organization is no longer wanted. Malone had a championship under his belt, six straight playoff appearances, and eight seasons with at least 46 wins—but that wasn’t enough to save his job. Thibodeau took a struggling franchise and turned them into serious contenders this season, but even that didn’t make a difference. Ultimately, the style of coaching that once defined the NBA’s best teams seems to be fading away.
