“I don’t have any remorse” – Ex-New York Knicks star gets brutally honest in his Tom Thibodeau dismissal assessment

The New York Knicks’ decision to part ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau shortly after a long-awaited Eastern Conference Finals run raised eyebrows around the NBA. But for former Knicks guard Austin Rivers, the move was anything but shocking, and certainly not worth mourning.

In fact, Rivers used the opportunity to speak candidly about his troubled stint under Thibodeau, criticizing both the coach and the franchise’s front office for what he called a mishandling of his time in New York.

Austin Rivers slams Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks

During a recent episode of Off Guard with Austin Rivers on The Ringer, the NBA veteran held nothing back while recalling his brief and bitter Knicks experience. “I'm not really a Thibs guy. I played for him, it wasn't the best experience personally, didn’t treat me well at all,” Rivers said, revealing how he was dismissed from day one.

"First day of camp, this is a true story... [this is] my first time really talking to him since signing there.

Thibodeau comes up to me and says, 'Hey man, excited for you to be here. I wanted Derrick [Rose], but you’ll do great. You’ll do great.' And he walked away."

That blunt comment foreshadowed what was coming. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Hmm. Not gonna be here long,’” Rivers admitted. Sure enough, the Knicks acquired Derrick Rose from the Pistons weeks later.

Rivers was soon demoted and eventually traded. It was an exit, he says was anything but respectful.“They brought me to a dark room, it was Leon [Rose], Worldwide Wes, and Thibs. They’re all three sitting there in the dark, with like a little light, it’s like an interrogation-type thing,” Rivers said. “Until we find the right spot with you, you don’t have to travel with the team anymore.”Frustrated and sidelined, Rivers had to plead for permission to travel just to maintain his training routine.

“My [emasculated] a*s had to call [Thibodeau] and ask him, ‘Can I please travel with you guys?’” he added. The Knicks eventually shipped him to a rebuilding Thunder team that waived him shortly after."They don’t do business the right way sometimes," Rivers said flatly. “So when you fire Thibs, I don’t have any remorse.”Despite helping lead the Knicks to four playoff appearances and a surprise 2025 Eastern Conference Finals run, Thibodeau’s departure has cast a shadow over the organization’s next move, especially with their failed attempts to interview current head coaches elsewhere.