New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart had nothing but good words about Tom Thibodeau in their first public comments since the veteran coach was fired last week.
“This is my first firing,” Brunson said on the latest episode of their “The Roommates Show” podcast. “Obviously, I’ve known him my entire life. But I remember having conversations and moments with him in eighth grade when we moved to Chicago and just to see where we are now, he helped me become a two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA. The things he’s done for me, individually, I’m so grateful for. Just because he had the confidence in me that I knew I had, but, like, it’s great to see someone push it, push me to be better. Obviously, I had my dad and he believes in me more than anyone. Him and my mom believe in me more than anyone.”
Jalen Brunson on What Tom Thibodeau Meant to Him
Brunson grew up with Thibodeau around. Thibodeau was an assistant coach with the Knicks when his father, Rick Brunson, played for the organization from 1998-2000. They reconnected again when Thibodeau hired his father to become one of his assistants in Chicago just as when he was rising as a high school star.
Under Thibodeau, Brunson blossomed into one of the league’s stars and the face of the Knicks franchise.
“To have Thibs to do what he did for my career, I’m just so grateful and thankful for,” Brunson added. “Not enough things can be said about what he’s meant to myself, my career.”
Brunson vouched for Thibodeau after the Pacers eliminated the Knicks when he was asked if he was “right coach” for the team.
“Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy,” Brunson said at the time. “Yes. Come on.”
Three days later, the Knicks fired Thibodeau.
Josh Hart on Coaching Change
GettyTom Thibodeau talks to New York Knicks players in a huddle against the Boston Celtics in the playoffs. On Tuesday, June 3, Thibodeau was relieved of his duties.
Hart believes they had a “really good year” in Thibodeau’s final season with the team. They eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round but lost to the lower-seeded Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“I think it didn’t end how we wanted it to end,” Hart said. “Sometimes when the season doesn’t end how you want it, or how you expected it to, there’s always changes. Whether that’s coaches, players. Thibs was my sixth coach in eight years.
“The NBA coaching profession is tough. Whenever you don’t finish how you wanted or expected, there’s always gonna be changes. That one is a tough one. I just think there should be nothing but praise for him and his time in New York.”
Hart doubled down on his praise for Thibodeau when he defended his former coach from his critics the social media platform X.
“All y’all talking trash about Thibs lame as hell. A different direction was taken but y’all should be appreciative for what he did for the team and organization,” he wrote.
Thibodeau, 67, left the Knicks as their fourth all-time winningest coach with 226 wins, trailing only Jeff Van Gundy (248), Joe Lapchick (326) and two-time champion coach Red Holzman (613). The Knicks made the playoffs in four of Thibodeau’s five years at the helm. He is also the first coach to guide the Knicks to consecutive 50-win seasons since Pat Riley in the 1994-95 season.
Josh Hart Thanked Tom Thibodeau For Flourishing Career
Like Brunson, Hart also had his best years in the NBA under Thibodeau. He was a mainstay of Thibodeau’s starting lineup and earned his biggest contract — a four-year extension that is worth up to $94 million he signed in 2023.
“The landscape of the team, the organization, has changed obviously with Thibs being gone,” Hart added. “We wanted to give a shoutout to Thibs, especially for myself. He helped make me into the player that I am. I had a lot of instability in the early part of my career, and he kind of gave me that stability and that opportunity to flourish as a player in the league, as a starter in the league. I’m always gonna be forever grateful for him.
“Obviously, this is always a tough part of the NBA because you grow relationships not just on the court, but off the court and personal relationships. I always got love for him. It’s always tough when there is a coaching change.”
