Carlisle thought Thibodeau's firing was 'a fake AI thing'

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was surprised by the New York Knicks' decision to fire Tom Thibodeau.

Carlisle, whose Pacers defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, told reporters Wednesday he initially thought the news of Thibodeau's firing was fake.

"Thibs went in and changed so much," Carlisle said, according to Andscape's Marc J. Spears. "You look at all that and what happened yesterday, I thought (the news) was a fake AI thing. No way possible. I know how the players feel about him, too."

Thibodeau spent five seasons as head coach of the Knicks, compiling a 226-174 record and earning NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2021. He had just signed a three-year extension last summer.

This season was the Knicks' most successful campaign under Thibodeau, as they finished with the third-best record in the East at 51-31 and advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2000.