Thomas out after rocky stint as Knicks' coach

Associated Press

Last update: April 18, 2008 - 9:23 PM

NEW YORK - Isiah Thomas was fired as coach of the New York Knicks on Friday after a season of listless and dreadful basketball, a tawdry lawsuit and unending chants from fans demanding his dismissal.

Thomas, the coach for two seasons, will stay with the organization reporting directly to new president Donnie Walsh, a rapid fall for Thomas who also was team president a little more than two weeks ago.

Walsh took over that role April 2, and his first big decision was to change coaches as he begins to turn around a team that never won a playoff game in Thomas' tenure.

"I just believe a new voice, a new coach, is necessary to change the direction of the team," Walsh said.

The Knicks finished 23-59, matching the franchise record for losses, in their seventh consecutive losing season.

"I can't tell you really where we failed," Walsh said. "The bottom line is we haven't won, and the team didn't look like it was motivated to try to win."

Thomas' tenure with the Knicks has been marked by a number of embarrassments.

This season alone, Thomas was found to have sexually harassed a former team employee, feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry -- the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out.

"I feel like some of the bigger events that happened on the way with Isiah overshadowed some of the good things" that he accomplished, Walsh said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS