Thibodeau close to deal with Knicks

NEW YORK Tom Thibodeau is going back to the New York Knicks, who are still seeking the success they enjoyed when he was an assistant two decades ago. The Knicks are finishing a deal to make Thibodeau their coach, a source said Saturday.

No contract has been signed but a deal is expected to be announced next week, the source said. ESPN reported that the Knicks and Thibodeau were completing a five-year contract.

When they do, the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year in Chicago will become the 13th person to coach the Knicks since Jeff Van Gundy resigned early in 2001-02.

Thibodeau was an assistant under Van Gundy, who led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals and into the post-season in every season he was there. New York has reached the playoffs just three times since Van Gundy’s departure. The Knicks went 2145 this season, missing the playoffs for a seventh straight year. Mike Miller finished the season as interim coach after David Fizdale was fired 22 games in.

New Knicks president Leon Rose then interviewed a number of candidates before choosing Thibodeau from a field that included Jason Kidd, former Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson and Miller, who impressed Rose while going 17-27 before the season was suspended in March.

San Antonio assistants Will Hardy and Ime Udoka were also candidates. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said both will get their opportunities, but praised the choice of Thibodeau.

“Tommy’s a seasoned veteran who, it goes without saying, understands what wins and what loses,” Popovich said.

“He knows how to put a program together, create a culture and be demanding. It’s easy to demand things, but to make people accountable and want to play the right way is not something that’s easy for everybody to do. But Tom knows it inside and out and he’ll be a great choice to organize the situation there, develop a plan, start the culture, stick to it, be persistent and get after it. So it’s a great choice.”