Once more, players have chosen Tom Thibodeau as the head coach they would least like to play for.
He has won the anonymous player poll for three seasons in a row.
The New York Knicks’ acquisition of the second seed in the Eastern Conference follows closely behind the disrespect.
The Knicks have improved greatly in the last few seasons under Thibodeau. They will probably take a year to develop into serious NBA title contenders.
There is a myth about Thibodeau that he overworks his guys. Playing for the old-school head coach is seen by many as a challenging endeavor because of his meticulous attention to detail and the sophisticated roles he demands of his players. Donte DiVincenzo, who signed with the Knicks this past summer, thinks that everyone has the wrong idea about his head coach.
“Because no one is in our locker room and everyone who speaks is outside of it.” They are unaware of what occurs,” DiVincenzo said to Fred Katz of The Athletic. “Thibs is an excellent manager. He’s a fantastic head coach, and he’s done a fantastic job this season of getting the most out of each and every player on our squad in addition to managing injuries that have kept him in and out of the lineup.
At the end of the regular season, DiVincenzo shot 40.1% from three-point range and 44.3% from the field, averaging 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. With Thibodeau in charge, the sixth-year wing has prospered. This season, the Knicks have advanced significantly because of the in-house growth of several players.
It’s hard to understand why players all across the league still treat Thibodeau disrespectfully given his incredible record throughout his time in the league and his promising future. Yes, he gives his guys intense coaching, and he never wavers in his dedication to playing strict defense. But the outcomes are self-evident. Winning is the main goal of professional basketball. Under Thibodeau, the Knicks are doing a lot of that. That that make him a desirable coach to work for.