Jeff Hornacek has reportedly been dismissed as head coach of the New York Knicks. After two seasons at the helm of the Knicks, Hornacek registered a 60-104 record and missed the playoffs in both campaigns. As the Knicks arrived back in New York early Thursday morning following their season finale road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Hornacek was informed that he would be getting fired. Hornacek had one year remaining on his contract.
Following comes from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The New York Knicks dismissed coach Jeff Hornacek early Thursday morning, league sources told ESPN.
Knicks president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry informed Hornacek of his firing upon the team’s return to suburban New York following a flight back from a 108-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hornacek had one year left on his contract.
Hornacek joined the Knicks back in the summer of 2016 after three seasons as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He was hired by then-president of basketball operations, Phil Jackson. The duo famously butted heads over the lauded ‘triangle offense’ which Jackson made popular during his stints as an 11-time NBA champion as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
Jackson was dismissed after the 2016-17 campaign and Steve Mills was promoted to take Jackson’s place. Typically when a new front office regime comes in, they clean house but Mills elected to give Hornacek a chance with a curious roster headlined by Kristaps Porzingis. Hornacek reportedly had a couple of issues with Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony in their brief time together as well as a spat with big man Joakim Noah before the center was sent home by the Knicks.
While the Knicks did appear to be a possible playoff contender early in the season, their playoff hopes officially came crumbling down once Porzingis suffered a season-ending torn ACL. New York then joined the tank race but never improved their draft lottery standings hovering around the ninth spot for the better part of the second half of the season.
Hornacek has recorded a 161-216 record overall in his time as an NBA head coach. Both situations weren’t exactly the best for him with both front offices in both organizations being tumultuous at times but it will be hard to see him get another head coaching gig right away.
