Former Knicks Coach Surfaces With St. John's

Tom Thibodeau has made his first public appearance since departing from the New York Knicks in June, working with the St. John's men's basketball team during their practice sessions. The team shared photos of Thibodeau at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, thanking him for his involvement with the current players.

St. John's, which uses Madison Square Garden as a part-time home for high-profile games, is coached by another former Knicks head coach, Rick Pitino. Pitino and Thibodeau have been friends for decades, and Pitino publicly expressed confusion and disappointment over Thibodeau's dismissal, praising his impact on the Knicks and their run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Since leaving the Knicks, Thibodeau has maintained a low profile. The Knicks have hired Mike Brown as his replacement, though several of Thibodeau's assistants are expected to remain with the team. Both the Knicks and St. John's are generating significant excitement for the upcoming season, with St. John's coming off a highly successful year under Pitino, including a Big East Tournament win.

St. John's will begin its 2025–26 season on November 3 against Quinnipiac in Queens, with its Madison Square Garden debut scheduled against Alabama five days later.