The Knicks’ decision to fire Tom Thibodeau didn’t necessarily come as a shock to the players.
When a team comes up short, moves are usually made. They knew that.
“I think we had a really good year. I think it didn’t end how we wanted it to end. Sometimes when the season doesn’t end how you want it, or how you expected it to, there’s always changes,” Josh Hart said on the latest episode of his and Jalen Brunson’s “The Roommates Show” podcast. “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.”
Other than brief social media posts, both gave their first public comments on the firing. And they had nothing but praise for Thibodeau’s role in elevating their stature in the league.
Brunson, in particular, has known Thibodeau nearly his entire life. He was a young kid when his father, Rick, played for the Knicks for two seasons from 1998-2000. Thibodeau was a Knicks assistant at the time. And Rick Brunson later served as an assistant on Thibodeau’s staff with both the Bulls and Timberwolves before reuniting again on the Knicks.
Thibodeau, quite literally, saw Brunson grow up.
After the Knicks were eliminated in six games by the Pacers in the conference finals, Brunson was incredulous when asked if Thibodeau was the right man to take the Knicks forward.
“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.”
Brunson rose from a role player on the Mavericks to a superstar with the Knicks under Thibodeau.
“This is my first firing,” Brunson said on the show. “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.
“To have Thibs to do what he did for my career, I’m just so grateful and thankful for. Not enough things can be said about what he’s meant to myself, my career.”
Hart went from a journeyman to a key part of the Knicks’ core under Thibodeau. He had also been one of Thibodeau’s vocal supporters.
“The landscape of the team, the organization, has changed obviously with Thibs being gone,” Hart said. “We wanted to give a shout out 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.”
Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years. He led them to the postseason in four of his five seasons in charge and improved their win total year-over-year all but one season.
“Especially now, people have their own perceptions of certain things, or the end of the season or whatever it is, but he took that job when the Knicks were just buns, 20 wins,” Hart said. “He got that job and was there for five years, made the playoffs four years, first Eastern Conference finals for 25 years, and he helped Knicks basketball go back into the top level in the league. He should get a lot of credit for the foundation that he built.”
“I agree,” Brunson added. “100 percent.”