Tom Thibodeau has his own fair share of critics and detractors, especially after the New York Knicks were eliminated from the playoffs. Turns out, Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley is among those who chose to defend the controversial head coach.
Thibodeau started his coaching career as an assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1989-1990 season. Since then, he has played that role for the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Boston Celtics.
After spending 20 years as an assistant coach, Thibodeau received his first head coaching gig for the Chicago Bulls in 2010. He would take the NBA by storm when he guided a young Derrick Rose-led team compete in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, various injuries and questionable rosters killed any chance for Thibodeau to contend for a championship.
Over the years, Thibodeau rebuilt his reputation after failed stints with the Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves by coaching the New York Knicks back to relevance. And even if he prefers playing starting units as much as possible, the results that come after has been worth it for the Jalen Brunson-led team.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Patrick Beverley Defends Tom Thibodeau After New York Knicks’ Playoff Exit
While some prefer Thibodeau’s coaching style, there are those who think that playing the starters for more than 40 minutes on a nightly basis can be a bit too much as it can lead to serious injuries, as stated by former Memphis Grizzlies star Chandler Parsons. For Milwaukee Bucks veteran Patrick Beverley, though, the Knicks coach can’t be blamed in a video clip of his podcast shared on X:
Can you blame Tibs for the Knicks injuries in the playoffs? pic.twitter.com/C9Y5k7m9By
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) May 21, 2024
Before they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers, several Knicks players have gone out because of different injuries this season, These include, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, among others. In any case, Beverley stands by Thibodeau’s side due to the fact that the playoffs are a different monster than the regular season and the intensified level of competition calls for minutes to be played.
Although the Knicks were knocked out of the playoffs, the performance they showed left fans believing in a bright future ahead of them. Hopefully, Beverley’s balanced take on the matter sheds more light about Thibodeau’s style and eases the blame off of him.
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