NEW YORK — Isiah Thomas was fired as coach of the New York Knicks on Friday, ending a year fraught with embarrassing episodes on and off the court.
Thomas, the coach for two seasons, will remain with the organization and report directly to new president Donnie Walsh, a rapid fall for Thomas who also was team president a little more than two weeks ago.
Walsh took over that role April 2, and his first big decision was to change coaches as he begins the process of turning around a team that never won a playoff game in Thomas’ tenure.
“I just believe a new voice, a new coach, is necessary to change the direction of the team,” Walsh said.
The Knicks finished 23-59, matching the franchise record for losses, in their seventh straight losing season.
This season alone, Thomas was found to have sexually harassed a former team employee, feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry — the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out.
Walsh wants a new coach in place by the draft in June, when the Knicks will finally have their lottery pick again after handing over their previous two to Chicago in the Curry trade. Walsh said Sunday he had not yet talked to any candidates for either a coach or general manager job.
Thomas is 187-223 as an NBA coach, leading the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs in three straight years from 2000-03. Larry Bird fired him after becoming team president, a move Walsh — who had hired Thomas as coach — was originally against but eventually went along with.
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