While the Knicks season came to a disappointing ending, Tom Thibodeau’s work in turning the franchise around this season earned him the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year.
In his first year with the Knicks, Thibodeau took a team from 21-45 the previous season to a 41-31 record and the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. He has become the first coach to earn the award in his first season with two different franchises, having won the award in 2010-11 in his first season as a head coach with the Chicago Bulls.
Thibodeau edged out Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams for the award after Williams was named the winner of the vote of their peers for the National Basketball Coaches Association Award.