INDIANAPOLIS — Jalen Brunson did not appreciate the question.

But it had to be asked.

And Brunson didn’t leave any gray area in his response.

Is Tom Thibodeau the right coach to take this Knicks team to the next level?

After the Knicks’ defeat to the Pacers in Game 6, Brunson was emphatic in his belief that the team has the right leader. He expressed his confidence by saying, “Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy. Yes. Come on.”

Thibodeau completed his fifth season with the Knicks, which also marked his most successful with the team.

He took over a perennial bottom-feeding franchise and reached the postseason four of his five seasons.

There has been year-over-year improvement nearly every season.

This year, he got the Knicks within two wins of the NBA Finals.

But he also has never reached the Finals in his long career as a head coach.

It’s led some to wonder whether there might be someone better to elevate the Knicks to that stature.

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For his own part, Thibodeau believes that next step is within reach.

Thibodeau acknowledged the disappointment of falling short of their ultimate goal but emphasized the need to draw motivation from it. He recognized that the team finished in the top three but stressed the importance of using the setback to fuel their determination for the upcoming season.

The coach highlighted the significance of utilizing the disappointment as a driving force to work hard during the offseason. Thibodeau underlined the team’s objective to continue improving and strive towards achieving their ultimate goal. He encouraged a mindset of using the setback as a stepping stone towards progress and success.