“Stop being a coward” – Stephen A. Smith rips into Knicks president Leon Rose after shocking Tom Thibodeau decision

On Tuesday, the New York Knicks announced the dismissal of head coach Tom Thibodeau — a move that immediately drew passionate reactions from all around the NBA community. One of these reactions came from an ESPN personality who wears his orange and blue heart on his sleeve.

Appearing on “NBA Today,” Stephen A. Smith let the world know that he had a bone to pick with Knicks president Leon Rose when it comes to the firing of Thibodeau.

“To be quite honest with you, I think we New Yorkers should find Leon Rose’s statement offensive,” Smith said. “Get the hell in front of a microphone and a camera, and answer questions. Stop being a coward. That’s how he’s acting.”

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As heated as he was, Smith went on to clarify that he was not delivering a personal attack against the Knicks executive.

"I'm not calling him that as a man or as a person. I'm saying that's how he's been acting as president of the New York Knicks when it comes to communicating with the media and articulating the decisions that you make, and why they are being made," Smith added.

Thibodeau's dismissal comes on the heels of the Knicks' first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. Among all the reputed head coaches who have been at the helm of the Knicks since 2000 — including Jeff Van Gundy, Larry Brown, Mike D'Antoni, and Mike Woodson — only Thibodeau was able to lead the team past the second round and on the cusp of the NBA Finals.

In the aftermath of Tuesday's events, Smith has joined fans and analysts clamoring for the Knicks organization to be more transparent on the reasons behind the dismissal of Thibodeau.

Stephen A. Smith calls the dismissal of Knicks HC Tom Thibodeau "scapegoat mentality"

On "NBA Today," Smith went so far as to say that Thibodeau was a "scapegoat" following the Knicks' conference final loss.

"I don't think this was fair to Tom Thibodeau at all, and I'm somebody who has been very critical of him in terms of his lack of use of his bench, Smith said. "Him being gone, it's like a scapegoat mentality." [Timestamp - 0:33]

All eyes will be on the Knicks organization as they seek a new head coach this offseason. Of course, Thibodeau's next NBA destination will be eagerly monitored as well.

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Simoun Victor Redoblado

Simoun Victor Redoblado is an NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda with over 12 years of experience writing for publications such as Collider, ALL-STAR Magazine, and Sir Charles in Charge.

Simoun has a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, Major in English and Minor in journalism. Thanks to the journalism courses that he took, Simoun understood the fundamentals of journalistic storytelling in the context of sports writing.

Passionate for the UP Fighting Maroons, Simoun is a fan of the NBA, PBA, UAAP, and FIBA.
His childhood team was the Chicago Bulls and Simoun was a longtime supporter of the Houston Rockets because his friends would say he looked like Yao Ming.

Simoun loves the systematic, tactical movement of the ball and the players, the stories behind each individual competing on the hardcourt and most of all, how basketball is a sport for life and all its struggles and lessons.

A father of two, Simoun spends his free time with his kids.

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