For one season in the Big Apple, it was a bold move that reunited Towns with his former head coach in Minnesota, Tom Thibodeau. Despite the new-look Knicks going on to win 51 regular season games and making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, Thibs was fired on Tuesday.

While there are still questions surrounding Towns’ fit in New York, the $53 million (2025-26), $57 million (2026-27) and $61 million (2027-28 player option) he’s due the next three seasons will make it nearly impossible for the Knicks to move him. Instead, they will likely be forced to find a new head coach that can get them to the next level, with KAT on roster.

Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori linked to Knicks head coaching job

And wouldn’t you know it, the Knicks are eyeing up the Minnesota Timberwolves yet again, in assistant coach, Micah Nori, according to The Athletic insiders — who linked him, along with eleven other candidates, to the New York Knicks’ newly vacant head coaching job.

Nori has been involved in several coaching searches in recent years while serving as the lead assistant in Minnesota under head coach Chris Finch. He has earned acclaim for his smarts and his mid-game interviews with the Timberwolves, while the franchise has also had two of its most successful seasons during his time there.

The Athletic

The fit in New York is an understandable one. Nori has a well-developed relationship with Towns and would be given reign to push him. If there is a way to bridge the gap on the roster between those that were there, and Towns going forward, a familiar face could be it.

At 51 years old Nori isn’t a former player fresh off of retirement and stepping onto the sidelines. He’s also not the aging retread that has been passed around the league by countless other teams. Nori has been waiting for his opportunity and he’d be a fresh voice in NBA head coaching circles.

He began as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors during the 2009-10 season and was there until going to Sacramento in 2013-14. He worked under Tim Connelly in Denver and came to Minnesota before the 2021-22 season.

Related: Timberwolves Deja Vu: Tom Thibodeau Relieved of His Coaching Duties in New York

It’s a pretty big ask for a new head coach to come in and improve upon 51 wins. Then again, it was here that you read about Tom Thibodeau being a fit for the incompetent New York Knicks.

So… is Nori going to leave for the New York Knicks?

In recent seasons there has been plenty of talk about Nori’s possible rise to head coaching prominence. At some point, that much smoke should eventually catch fire. Until then, he will continue to assist Chris Finch, who is easily the most successful head coach the Minnesota Timberwolves have ever had.

For as great as Finch has been, he has been severely out-coached at times, as well. If the Minnesota Timberwolves were to surprise the basketball world and look to improve on Finchy, maybe Nori would get a look. More likely, he and other rising assistants will look elsewhere for head coaching opportunities.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have plenty things they will be juggling this summer on their own. I’d guess Connelly would prefer not to add a coaching hire to the mix, but he may not have a choice.

Speaking of the Pacers, they earned their right to play for an championship by defeating Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks in a six-game Eastern Conference Finals that made sportsbooks a ton of money via diehard Knicks fans who believed this was their year.

As history has now told us, it was not their year. Instead, just like the Wolves, they are watching the final round of the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs from their couch. And now, former Minnesota Timberwolves — turned New York Knicks — head coach Tom Thibodeau couldn’t go to work, even if he tried.

Former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau fired by New York Knicks

Tuesday afternoon, at approximately 1:40 p.m. CDT, news broke (via Shams – ESPN) that Thibs was being “relieved of his duties” as New York Knicks head coach, marking the second time he has been fired from a team that rostered Karl-Anthony Towns as one of its featured stars.

BREAKING: The New York Knicks are relieving Tom Thibodeau of his duties as head coach, sources tell ESPN. Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first East Finals in 25 years, made playoffs in 4 of 5 years and led Knicks to consecutive 50+ win seasons for first time since the 1990s. pic.twitter.com/B7w8KhoEcF

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 3, 2025

Tom Thibodeau went 226-174 in his five seasons leading the New York Knicks, lifting Thibs overall head coaching record to 578-420 in his 13-years leading NBA teams.

Related: Suns Seeking a Timberwolves-Friendly Return for Kevin Durant…

The only real stain on Thibs’ head coaching career, from a wins/losses standpoint, was his three-year stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which he went 97-107. It’s the only NBA head coaching job Tom Thibodeau has had in which his team didn’t have a winning record when he left.

Minnesota Timberwolves Donte DiVincenzo provides clarity

In a back-and-forth during the action, it seemed as though DiVincenzo was going at former head coach Tom Thibodeau. That wouldn’t be at all surprising, given how he rubbed some former players in Minnesota the wrong way.

But the Wolves’ new guard provided some clarity to reporters, after Minnesota defeated New York in the exhibition contest. The Athletic confirmed afterwards that he was,in fact, talking to Knicks assistant coach, Rick Brunson.

“I didn’t say thanks for the trade. It was about a finish. I was joking with (Thibodeau) about not being able to finish, giving him a hard time. I wasn’t talking to Thibs. I saw the clip. I wasn’t talking to Thibs. I didn’t say anything about the trade. So that was it.”

Donte DiVincenzo on the comments towards the Knicks bench (The Athletic)

That wasn’t where things ended though, and DiVincenzo had further words for Brunson postgame. The two needed to be separated, as their conversation got more heated. Remember, DiVincenzo and Rick’s son Jalen both played at Villanova together, too. So their history goes way back.

Donte DiVincenzo and Rick Brunson had to be separated after exchanging words 😳

This was Donte's first game back in New York following the trade to Minnesota pic.twitter.com/CDt72FzEkH

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 14, 2024

Speaking after the game, it’s clear that DiVicenzo is focused on what’s ahead rather than the team he left. That’s a good thing, because he is expected to be an integral piece of what the Timberwolves accomplish this year. The roster shuffling has graded out favorably, but only matters if the on-court performance follows.

“I’m not extra motivated (by the trade). It’s just the fact, take the team out of it, that I get to play in (Madison Square) Garden. I have so much love for these fans. The energy in there is absolutely amazing. That’s where the energy and motivation comes from. It has nothing to do with (the trade). I’ve been traded before. I’ve gone back to the team that I’ve played for. There’s no extra whatever on top of it. But the Garden fans add a little extra to it. It was special.”

Donte DiVicenzo on added motivation (The Athletic)

Related: ESPN BPI Loves Timberwolves + Knicks Blockbuster Trade… for One Team

The Timberwolves are back in action on Wednesday night when they play the Chicago Bulls. Teammate Julius Randle will make his Minnesota debut, and it comes with Lonzo Ball returning to the court for the first time in ages.

Their stars, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are both in for huge pay increases that will make the Wolves roster one of the highest paid in the NBA. On top of all those high priced game checks, will come a luxury tax bill at the end of the season that is projected to be $50 million, if no moves are made this offseason.

WILL Glen Taylor foot that bill, if he remains majority owner? If Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore take over, CAN they dole out that kind of cash? If the answer to either of those questions is no, then Towns appears the most in danger of being moved. He’d bring the most back in a trade and Naz Reid could slide into his place somewhat seamlessly.

Karl Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks?

While Karl Anthony Towns has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves since the moment Flip Saunders made him the number one overall pick back in 2015, he is a New Jersey native and certainly has ties to the east coast.

KAT’s most important tie to the Big Apple might be his former agent, Leon Rose, who is now president of the New York Knicks. Who is his right-hand man? Gersson Rosas, ever heard of him? He only ran the Wolves and had them on their way to building a team around KAT.

The Knicks also happen to have FOUR first round picks over the next two NBA Drafts and they are on the prowl for more offensive help. In other words, if Tim Connelly is thinking about moving Karl-Anthony Towns, there may be no better fit in the league than the New York Knicks. That’s why rumors randomly leak out linking the two.

According to @ShamsCharania the Knicks have maintained a level of interest in Karl Anthony Towns 👀 pic.twitter.com/IFoRcqV4k9

— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) January 2, 2024

Towns has a salary that increases to $49.3 million next season. He will be 29 years old and the Timberwolves could turn the page to Naz Reid as their starter. Reid, who is a fan-favorite, will be just 25 years old and is set to make only $14 million. That number would allow Minnesota and Tim Connelly ample opportunity to make other roster moves.

Would Tom Thibodeau want Karl-Anthony Towns in New York?

Of course, one substantial caveat to Karl Anthony Towns playing for the New York Knicks means that he would again be coached by Tom Thibodeau. The last time that tandem was together, we saw a season of tumultuous proportions, complete with a Jimmy Butler blow up and forced trade that nearly ruined the franchise.

In any scenario that includes Towns going to the Knicks, Thibodeau would both need to believe that the talented big man was actually going to play his brand of defense, which is not something longtime local insider Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) believes (or is being told) that Thibs is sold on.

It’s unclear whether Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached Towns with the Timberwolves, could be convinced that Towns has finally decided to play defense.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Given how the last time both Karl Anthony Towns and Tom Thibodeau were paired together went, it’s pretty crazy to think that a fresh start would be a great idea. Then again, Towns wouldn’t be the face in New York that he is in Minnesota, and he has already learned how to defer to another talented start that is well his junior.

Related: Jason Kidd Questions Karl-Anthony Towns’ Self-Proclaimed Big Man Legacy

How the Timberwolves fare during this playoff run would seem to be the deciding factor regarding what they do with some of the key pieces of their roster. An exit without a title may have them more inclined to get the band back together and see if a third season with the same core can yield the desired results.

Now days, Jeff Teague is out of the league (last played during the 2020-21 season). Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s out of mind. The 12-year NBA point guard recently started co-hosting a podcast recently called the “Club 520 Podcast” and on the most recent episode, Teague recanted the Jimmy Butler practice debacle story from his point of view.

Jeff Teague gives new perspective on Jimmy Butler blow-up

Included were some juicy details that had not been made public, up until this podcast airing. The best part is embedded in a clip below but let me set the scene because that clip doesn’t include the lead up to Butler’s post-scrimmage rant.

According to Teague, Butler got to training camp three days late. When he did finally show, he refused to participate in any drills early on at his first practice with the team. That was until, then head coach Tom Thibodeau, called for an intersquad scrimmage. At that point, Jimmy declared himself ready so Thibs named him as a starter next to KAT, Wiggins, Teague and Taj Gibson.

To that, Teague recants Jimmy yelling, “I ain’t playing with them”. From there, instead of putting himself on the 2nd team, Butler declared himself a member of the 3rd team. Guys who had absolutely no chance of making the team. So, Thibs replaced Butler, in the starting lineup, with Derrick Rose and the scrimmage between the 1st and 3rd team (plus Butler) began.

Jimmy goes nuclear

After Jimmy led his ragtag squad to victory over the starters, he went crazy, according to his former teammate, who I will let take it from here (clip transcribed below).

Jimmy Butler been the ????
Story time with Teague >>> pic.twitter.com/PBuNBZgNAa

— SBWells (@wellssssssssss) April 27, 2023

“Time run out and they win, they beat us like 18-6, right. Man, Jimmy going crazy. ‘Y’all think that team can win without me! I’m HIM! Pay me! Pay me!’ Mind you, he ain’t took off his Jordan warm up yet so he finally takes it off. He got the Timberwolves shirt on but he cut the Minnesota out so it’s just chest. He cut the Minnesota [logo] out the shorts, it’s just shorts.

He out here with a hole in the middle of his shirt, in the middle of his leg, so I’m crying now, you know? I’m crying… I’m like ‘yo bro, you crazy’ but I didn’t realize he just beat us with the G-League team so he’s like, ‘I just beat them with the G-Leaguers! This is your starters?!’ So now, I’m laughing, I’m still crying laughing, but I’m like ‘hold on, he talking about me… Yeah, I’m one of the starters’. So, I’m mad now. All of us [starters] are like ‘nah, F-that like we gotta play again!'”

Jeff Teague – Club 520 Podcast

Butler ditches practice for Rachel Nichols interview

Unfortunately for Jeff and the rest of the Wolves starters that day, they did not get another chance at beating Jimmy Butler’s 3rd stringers. Instead, according to Teague, Thibs made the starters play against the 2nd team first. At that point, Butler sprinted for the locker room

After the starters beat the 2nd team, all of them ran back to the locker room to retrieve Jimmy and demand a rematch. He was nowhere to be found. Why? Well after returning to the gym and completing practice, they returned to the locker room to shower and go home. Then, they turned on the TV and guess who was doing a live interview on ESPN with Rachel Nichols?

“Jimmy just darts to the locker room. I’m talking about running, fast as hell. So we play the second unit, we beat them. We [starters] all run to the locker room, we’re like, ‘Jimmy, bring your ass back out here, we want to play again!’ Jimmy gone. Jimmy at home.

We keep playing, we have practice for like another hour. We all showering, we go in the locker room and ESPN pop up. [It’s] Rachel Nichols and Jimmy Butler on TV. We like ‘what the f***!’. [Butler then tells Nichols in the interview] ‘yeah, I just killed them at practice and I think they all good players…’ We like ‘what… hold on’. I can’t make this up bro. He came and killed us and then did an interview at home. [It was] one of the most iconic moments I’ve ever been a part of in basketball, bro.'”

Jeff Teague – Club 520 Podcast

All planned out

That’s when the Minnesota Timberwolves locker room realized that Jimmy Butler had planned that entire day out. He knew he was going to go to practice and beat the 1st team with the 3rd team. From there, he scheduled Rachel Nichols to meet him back at his house, where he would tell her what happened, among other things.

"All my emotion came out at one time."

Jimmy Butler sat down with @Rachel__Nichols to talk about today's practice and what led to it. See more on SportsCenter at 6 ET and NBA Countdown at 7 ET ???? pic.twitter.com/znPpDwyW9y

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 10, 2018

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Karl’s also enjoying the game of basketball as much as anytime in his professional career. Last night, after putting up an easy 30 points and 8 rebounds in a win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, KAT sat down with NBA Game Time Live (NBA TV) and talked about just that.

One of the analysts on GameTime is Sam Mitchell, who played much of his career with the Wolves and coached the team during Towns’ rookie season (’15-’16). That’s the last time Karl enjoyed playing the game of basketball as much as he does right now. Don’t underestimate the effect Sam Mitchell had on Karl-Anthony Towns, or any of the other young Wolves (Wiggins, LaVine, etc), during that time. If you do, watch this clip of Towns appreciation for Mitchell. Sam Mitchell is left speechless buy KAT’s praise.

Karl-Anthony Towns left Sam Mitchell speechless last night. Said he hasn’t enjoyed basketball this much since Mitchell coached him as a rookie. pic.twitter.com/LQBCyYCOTw

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 17, 2022

Underrated, Underappreciated Sam Mitchell

When Sam Mitchell coached the Minnesota Timberwolves during that 2015-16 season, he was universally seen as a placeholder for whoever was going to be hired as the permanent replacement that offseason. Luring one of the NBA’s best free agent coaches wouldn’t be a problem because of all the young talent on that Wolves roster.

Sure enough, Glen Taylor handed the franchise keys to Tom Thibodeau that offseason, who turned around and traded Zach LaVine for Jimmy Butler just one year later. Zach and Karl are best friends and were even closer back then. Jimmy hated KAT. So it’s no surprise that Towns lost some of the joy he found in basketball during that time of his career.

In retrospect, we probably should have skipped the Thibs/Butler era. Leaving Sam Mitchell in place to nurture a much more patient rebuild may have been the better option. Not just because of his relationship with Towns and others, but because Mitchell was and is a great basketball and NBA mind. That’s something that shows every time he talks about the game.

No slight on Ryan Saunders

I don’t take KAT’s comments as a slight against Ryan Saunders. Karl-Anthony Towns lost his mom and other family members while Ryan was coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves. I’d imagine it was difficult for him to find joy in a lot of things during that time.

Yes, Ryan Saunders wasn’t ready to lead an NBA team when he was hired but the hiring was his fault. Taylor, then Rosas, put Ryan into a position that he was never going to be able to win. Now years removed from those difficult years, both on and off the floor, Karl-Anthony Towns seems primed for something special.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

When the dust settles on the 2020-21 NBA season, Monday night’s Minnesota Timberwolves “L” will be just another hidden addend to a long addition problem that shows only the final sum. Right now, that sum is 12 (with 4 wins) but Andrew Wiggins made the latest addition hurt a bit more than any of the 11 prior.

Three steals and another three blocks for Andrew Wiggins tonight. Up to 28 blocks on the season. Sixth in the NBA, behind five centers. Also had 23 points on 10/19 FG in his first career game vs Minnesota.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 26, 2021

Wiggins had a big game last night and has certainly been better in Oakland than he was in Minneapolis. But a lot of that is based on his new environment and different expectations, which Jon Krawczynski laid out beautifully this morning for The Athletic.

Postgame Praise… for Thibs?

After the Warriors dominated the Timberwolves, Andrew was doing his postgame interview and praising Golden State for their championship structure, organization and professionalism. None of that struck me as surprising, given we’ve heard the same things from many who have left Minnesota for more successful teams.

Wiggins did say, however, that it’s not the first time he’s played for a regime with such executive expectations. According to Andrew, playing for the championship-laden Golden State Warriors feels a lot like playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves under…. Tom Thibodeau.

“It’s different, because everything here is organized. You know what you’re doing every night,” Wiggins said. “You know what you’re getting yourself into, you know the minutes you’re going to play, you know your rotation.

“There was a couple years like that in Minnesota where everything, you know everything. That was with Coach Thibs. Thibs was very organized. Thibs was very clear, he was very straightforward. That’s one thing they do here. They’re very straightforward. They’re not going to sugar-coat nothing. There’s no trick questions, so it’s good.”

Andrew Wiggins (quote via The Athletic)

I doubt Wiggins was trying to throw shade at any of the current or past Minnesota Timberwolves administrations but that’s certainly how it hit. Wiggins was here for Flip Sr, Thibs and the first 1.5 years of Gersson Rosas.

Time for reflection

Maybe the Rosas-run Timberwolves will someday be the type of “organized” and “straightforward” franchise Andrew is talking about. But these comments should open Karl, Ryan and Gersson’s eyes.

You can coddle, cuddle and give professional athletes everything they think they want, but at the end of the day, they want to win and they want successful careers. Players today may not always like the “be a pro” style of management, but that still seems to be what gains their respect.

You can’t find a better example of that than Andrew Wiggins praising the guy we though he helped run out of town.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Sometimes the stars align and an incompetent franchise tries to channel old glory when selecting a head coach. The New York Knicks, who haven’t been a relevant franchise in years, became the latest bad team to try to channel the “glory days”. Former Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau is back in the NBA and gets to try to turn around the Knicks!

Breaking: The New York Knicks and Tom Thibodeau are finalizing a five-year deal to make him the franchise’s next head coach, sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/CH3dLzxF63

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 25, 2020

WELCOME TO MINNESOTA

If this sounds familiar Thibodeau was brought to Minnesota under the EXACT SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. The young Timberwolves needed a coach who could teach them how to play defense, and Thibs seemed perfect. The entire state of Minnesota was elated that we were able to convince him to come here.

I mean sure there were whispers about what led to Tom Thibodeau’s departure from Chicago. He certainly liked to give his players extended minutes. He also loved to scream from the moment the game started until well after it was finished. What could go wrong?

When Tom Thibodeau came to Minnesota he brought his former All-Star cast with him. The Wolves acquired Jimmy Butler for a package built around Zach LaVine on draft night. It truly felt like things were going to be different.

The Wolves got one playoff appearance and massive amounts of drama that eventually led to Thibodeau being fired. The drama started during one particularly eventful practice in which Jimmy Butler WENT OFF:

Yahoo Sources: More details on what occurred during Timberwolves' practice that featured Jimmy Butler unexpectedly subbing himself in and "talking s***" to front office, Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins. https://t.co/YsjTF5W8Wn

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 10, 2018

THE THIBODEAU CHECKLIST

Thibodeau now gets to try to mold a very young Knicks team. But in order for that to happen we need to run through the Thibodeau Checklist:

one thing about tom thibodeau is that he gets along really well w young players and is known to gently mold them. it’s kind of his thing

— Haley O'Shaughnessy (@HaleyOSomething) July 25, 2020

1. Young team in need of a defensive identity? Check. The Knicks have one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, and desperately need a veteran coach to help develop them.
2. Former Bulls on or added to the roster. Check. Former Wolves PF Taj Gibson signed with the Knicks in the offseason. So he is already there. As for Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah? Might be tougher to bring them in.
3. People saying Thibs has learned from his previous failures. Check. There are already Knicks fans saying this will be different. Fool me three times you’re an idiot.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN

Let’s be real here. Thibodeau will run the youngsters into the ground. He will try to acquire some of his former players to help establish “his tone”. Then the drama will come next and Thibs will get fired again. People aren’t falling for this again are they?

Tom Thibodeau is the definition of CULTURE!!!! Finally the Knicks are trending in the right direction for once.

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) July 25, 2020

Jeff Van Gundy on the Thibs hire:

“I’m extremely happy for Tom and equally happy for the Knicks as they hired an elite coach who will give everything he has to turn the Knicks around”

via @NYPost_Berman https://t.co/hUSJYH5BAU

— Daily Knicks (@DailyKnicksFS) July 25, 2020

Steve Clifford on the New York Knicks' decision to hire Tom Thibodeau: pic.twitter.com/kUtMBI9KbJ

— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) July 25, 2020

I can’t wait to watch this dumpster fire unfold.

Seth Toupal | Minnesota Sports Fan

Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that former Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau is in the running for the New York Knicks vacant head coaching position. Other candidates for the job include current interim-head coach Mike Miller and former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson.

Story with @MikeVorkunov: Knicks soon embarking on head coaching search process, with Tom Thibodeau atop the list, sources tell The Athletic.

Full details, including timetable at @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/UwbSakELQU

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 27, 2020

Thibodeau has been a head coach for a total of 7 ½ years — 5 with the Chicago Bulls and 2 ½ with the Timberwolves. During those years, he made the playoffs six times. Not bad, huh? Must be a good coach.

Eh. Not really.

via GIPHY

Past Transgressions

However, anyone who watched the Timberwolves during Thibodeau’s tenure knows that this would be a terrible, though not unprecedented, move by the Knicks. Other than trading for Jimmy Butler and leading the Wolves to the playoffs for the first time since 2003-04, Thibodeau was a total disaster. Let’s recap some of that:

• Per his request, Butler was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in November of 2018, just 13 games into the season.
• Even though Thibs was considered a defensive coach, the Timberwolves were below-average defensively during all 2 ½ years of Thibodeau’s short tenure, as shown below.

• He tarted the infamous TimberBulls, a collection of past Bulls whom Thibodeau signed to the Wolves.

Presenting your 2018-2019 Minnecago Timberbulls. ? pic.twitter.com/UwFE7Pjkmf

— theScore (@theScore) September 11, 2018

• Tom was fired midway through the 2018-19 season, after a 19-21 start. The move came after an impressive win over the LeBron-led Los Angeles Lakers.

Since being let go from the Timberwolves, Thibodeau has scanned the league for the right fit. I don’t think that fit is the New York Knicks.

Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

The Knicks have one of the youngest rosters in the league — their average age of 25 years old was 6th in the NBA at the start of the 2019-20 season — and that, plus Tom Thibodeau on top, is not a recipe for success..

When the former Wolves coach made the Eastern Conference Finals with the Bulls in the 2010-11 season, Chicago’s average age was about 28 years old. With the Timberwolves, the roster wasn’t much younger.

In my opinion, the young Knicks won’t be able to handle the demanding nature of Coach Thibodeau. We all saw how it turned out with Wiggins and Towns.

On top of that, his coaching style doesn’t fit today’s game. He has built a reputation for playing his guys too long, both in Chicago and Minnesota (one could associate that with both Zach Lavine and Derrick Rose’s ACL tears). Additionally, his game strategy doesn’t fit in with that of today’s style.

In 2017-18, the year the Timberwolves made the playoffs, Minnesota was dead-last in three-pointers attempted. They only put up 22.5 per game. To put that into perspective, the Houston Rockets attempted a jaw-dropping 42.3 three-pointers per game in the same season. 

If Thibs has somehow evolved from his never-taking-my-starters-out-of-the-game or old-school coaching style, then I think he can become a good head coach in today’s game. If not, the Knicks would be making another huge mistake (which isn’t something new to them by the way).

“In all my years one thing has never changed; you win with serious, tough-minded players. That never changes.” — Tom Thibodeau

Looking at the quote above, it seems that if Thibs is hired, he won’t be winning anytime soon.

Carson Ruen | Minnesota Sports Fan

Do you remember the infamous Jimmy Butler practice? The one that led to his interview with Rachel Nichols… which then led to my “Dear Jimmy Butler, Fuck You” article, which articulated how just about every Timberwolves fan was feeling in that moment.. Jimmy was quoted yelling “YOU FUCKING NEED ME” to Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden? KAT reportedly cowered in fear when confronted?

Well, Bleacher Report GoT its hands on video footage from that practice and it was so much worse than we thought…

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Holy shit…. that much blood was never reported when all of this went down. I’m just shocked that the players who leaked the practice to reporters (including Jimmy) never mentioned Andrew Wiggins heart being ripped out of his chest. That would have been news… All of us were shocked by the size of it too… especially Tom.

And the cops weren’t even called… 

The camera angles on such a moment are incredible as well. This reporting has to push Bleacher Report to the top of sports outlets nationwide.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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