Alleged Reason Behind Tom Thibodeau's Firing by Knicks Revealed in New Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Knicks made the conference finals this year for the first time since 2000. They were two wins away from making the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

The New York Knicks want a "more lenient" head coach that trusts the bench after firing Tom Thibodeau, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

During Wednesday’s debate, each candidate had to pick a side on the thumbs up/thumbs down binary about the New York Knicks’ decision to fire Thibodeau following their Eastern Conference finals defeat to the Indiana Pacers. Seven candidates did not agree with the Knicks’ move, while Michael Blake had the backs of James Dolan and Leon Rose.