“ [Thibodeau] took that job when the Knicks were just bums. They were 20 wins. He got that job for five years, made the playoffs in four years, first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. He helped Knicks basketball go back to the top level in the league. He should get a lot of credit for the foundation that he built.”

The pair of Knicks offered kind words for their former coach, who was fired despite leading the team to the conference finals for the first time since 2000.

The Knicks have cast a wide net in their head coaching search following their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Giannis has been exceptionally loyal to the Bucks, and it seems like he’s staying on brand. Still, Milwaukee’s inflexibility and lack of top-end talent around the two-time MVP are impossible to ignore. Don’t pencil him into the Bucks’ opening-night starting five just yet. We have a lot of offseason left.

Calipari, who has publicly vouched for team president Leon Rose in the past prior to New York's last coaching search, said Wednesday the Knicks' vacancy is a "hell of a job," but his plan is to stick with the Razorbacks for now.

After getting rejected by the Mavericks in their push for Jason Kidd, maybe the Knicks will find their own head coach.