Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was asked at NBA Finals media availability about the New York Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday.
Carlisle was as surprised as everyone else, and his initial reaction to the news was incredibly relatable in today's media climate.
"When I first saw it, it came over one of the...I thought it was one of those fake AI things," Carlisle said.
Carlisle on Thibs' firing:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 4, 2025
"I thought it was one of those fake AI things" pic.twitter.com/Qqa4WBafUw
Carlisle thinking it was a fake internet meme sums up the NBA's world's reaction to Thibodeau's firing perfectly. After all, Thibodeau posted New York's first back-to-back 50-win seasons since the 1990s and took the Knicks to their first conference finals appearance in 25 years.
Ultimately, restoring the Knicks' place in modern day basketball relevance wasn't enough for Thibodeau to keep his job, and now New York is on to a coaching search for a job that should have no shortage of candidates.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Rick Carlisle Hilariously Described His First Reaction to the Tom Thibodeau Firing.
