rick Pitino, currently the coach of st. John’s, has stated that he has “no interest at all” in becoming the head coach of the New York Knicks again. Pitino made the comments during Wednesday’s MLB game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians.

Pitino also commented on the pressure facing the next Knicks coach: “I think whoever arrives, if it does not reach the finals, will be considered a failed season. So whoever arrives has a lot of pressure to take this team to the next level, because obviously, that’s why they are doing it.”

The Knicks recently fired coach Tom Thibodeau, despite the team reaching the ESA Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

Knicks’ Championship Drought

The Knicks have not reached the NBA finals since 1999 and have not won an NBA championship since 1973.

“Not at all,” Pitino said during the MLB game on Wednesday between the New york Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians.

Pitino, 72, previously coached the Knicks from 1987 to 1989, achieving a 90-74 record and leading the team to the playoffs twice.

The Hall of Fame coach just finished his second season at St. John’s in 2024-25, earning national and Big East coach of the year honors after a 31-5 season.

Thibodeau had a 22-174 record (.565) in five seasons with the Knicks, including a 51-31 record this season. His playoff record with New York was 24-23.