NEW YORK — Former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest is eyeing a return to his hometown — this time on the sidelines. The Queens native and NBA champion is making it clear: he wants to be the next head coach of the New York Knicks.
The franchise recently parted ways with Tom Thibodeau after a season that saw the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals. For Sandiford-Artest, the move came as a surprise.
“I love Thibbs. I think he did a great job, you know?” Sandiford-Artest told ScoopB.com. “I really didn’t have an opinion — I didn’t know. Honestly, I was on vacation so I didn’t know. Mainly, I love Thibbs for one; I didn’t see it coming. I think the Knicks played with him. I definitely saw things as I’m watching the game, but I thought Thibbs was great. I love Thibbs!”
While some have questioned the timing of the dismissal, Sandiford-Artest offered a measured view.
“You know, that’s hard to say because when you talk about coaching and ownership, you know… everybody’s different. Everybody’s got their own game plan,” he said. “I’ve never coached and I’ve never fired anyone, so I don’t know what goes on in people’s heads when they fire people — or even when they hire people. I didn’t know what was going on in anybody’s head [over there]. I thought the Knicks were great. I loved the Knicks, you know?”
As for whether firings like Thibodeau’s are rare, Sandiford-Artest pointed to precedent.
“Of course! Coaches get fired! Mike Malone just got fired. Mike Brown got fired five games into the season, you know what I mean? People get fired all the time,” he said. “I see it from the perspective of a former player who is a big fan of basketball.”
But Sandiford-Artest doesn’t just want to talk about coaching — he wants to be in the seat.
“Because I’m from New York,” he said when asked why he wants the Knicks job. “I have championships all around New York City from Rucker to Gun Hill, to Gershwin, to Soul In the Hole, to EBC, to Millbank, to Minisink, to Elmcor, to Far Rockaway… all over the city!”
He recounted his deep roots in NYC basketball, from Catholic Youth Organization leagues to AAU powerhouse Riverside Church, and his time starring at La Salle Academy and St. John’s. The 1999 NBA Draft was almost a full-circle moment — he came close to landing with the Knicks.
“I had my Knicks shorts on, I had my Knicks shirt on; I was ready to pop open the dress shirt to let people know it was on and poppin’, you already know what it is,” he said. “I’m from Queens!”
Though he never suited up for the Knicks early in his career, he eventually joined the team at the tail end of his playing days. Now, he sees coaching the franchise as the next natural step.
“There’s a couple places that I wanna coach: the Pacers, the Lakers, the Knicks, St. John’s, UCLA or USC or Cal-State LA,” he said. “The Knicks are probably the top two of all of ‘em.”
Sandiford-Artest is currently coaching in Division II women’s basketball and prides himself on readiness.
“Metta World Peace gets up at 5 a.m. every day to go to my 6am practices for the last 6 years with no budget in the program,” he said. “We don’t get anything easy in Division II Women’s Basketball, you understand? So yeah, that’s a different level… I gotta stay ready and stay prepared because coaching is something that I wanna do.”
While he hasn’t had direct contact with Knicks brass, including president Leon Rose or executive William “WorldWide Wes” Wesley, he spoke respectfully of them both.
“I don’t have a relationship with World Wide Wes, I just know World Wide Wes,” he said. “That incident with the Malice In the Palace, he came — that’s the first time I met World Wide Wes was when he dragged me off the court… he kept me from getting pepper sprayed!”
On Rose: “I honestly didn’t know if he was Black or white until I had to ask somebody. I knew that he was the president but you gotta understand that all I do is coach basketball every day.”
If given the job, Sandiford-Artist believes players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — who has been linked to New York — would thrive under his leadership.
“I’ve been in every single role. A go-to guy, the best on the floor on defense; I’ve been the best on the floor on offense,” he said. “People are saying, ‘How are these old school players gonna coach?’ Well, these players came up under us. They saw us playing and they took their game to the next level… We understand how to coach these players.”
He added, “When you talk about playing for the best, I’ve played for the best AND started on teams the majority of my career. It ain’t nothing that I’ve never seen.”
Sandiford-Artest also shared his admiration for Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and rising star Tyrese Haliburton.
“I think that Rick Carlisle is incredible. I love the Pacers. I hope they win it this year. I’m a huge fan,” he said.
On Haliburton: “He reminds me of John Stockton from the perspective of a late bloomer in terms of effectiveness… Not the same type of player but the same type of impact.”
And while other names — including Jason Kidd — are being floated for the Knicks job, Sandiford-Artest kept his focus local.
“All that I can say honestly, is that I’m trying to bring a title to New York City!” he said.
Sandiford-Artest’s desire to coach in the NBA comes after a decorated playing career that spanned 19 seasons and included stints with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks. Best known for his tenacity on defense, he was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and was a critical piece of the Lakers’ 2010 championship run.
His post-playing journey has included coaching experience at the grassroots and collegiate level, most recently in Division II women’s basketball, where he has focused on building programs with limited resources. He’s remained closely connected to the game, studying modern offensive and defensive schemes, while emphasizing the importance of structure, toughness, and preparation.
Coaching has always been in the cards for Sandiford-Artest, whose cerebral approach to the game was evident during his playing days. Often praised by teammates and opponents for his basketball IQ, he has quietly developed a reputation as a student of the game, often observing practices, sitting in on coaches’ meetings, and mentoring younger players.
The New York Knicks, meanwhile, are entering a pivotal stretch following their deep playoff run. With Jalen Brunson emerging as a franchise cornerstone and a roster built for contention, the coaching hire will play a crucial role in determining the team’s trajectory in a competitive Eastern Conference. The vacancy has already drawn interest from prominent names around the league, each with differing philosophies and credentials.
For Sandiford-Artest, the pitch is simple: bring the city’s basketball energy full circle. From playground dominance in the boroughs to professional triumphs on the NBA’s biggest stages, he sees a return to New York — this time as a head coach — not just as a job, but as a mission rooted in legacy, identity, and unfinished business.
