The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, and fans are taking it pretty well on Twitter.
It’s the end of the road for Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota.
According to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania, the Timberwolves fired the embattled head coach and will replace him, in the interim at least, with assistant coach Ryan Saunders, Timberwolves GM Scott Layden told The Athletic.
Sources close to the situation said that Wolves management was urgent to change the culture of the team, which was soured by the Jimmy Butler drama before he was shipped out of town. In the time after the trade, The Wolves front brass evaluated Thibodeau and the team and wasn’t pleased with what they saw.
A change was needed, and after Minnesota blew out the Los Angeles Lakers 108-86, the team informed Thibodeau that his services were no longer needed.
For many, this was a long time coming. On paper, the Timberwolves are supposed to be able to contend for the Western Conference crown, but to fans, it seemed as if the team underachieved. Though Karl Anthony-Townes has become an All-Star, Andrew Wiggins has regressed, and the Timberwolves remain stuck under .500.
Fans reacted to the news on Twitter mostly with relief.
My comments are in the parentheses.
— JC (LA Knight stan) (@JC130TV) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/DaneMosher7/status/1082067498722357248
(Yea, it definitely was weird timing, no doubt about it, Dane.)
— Brett (@brettzigs) January 7, 2019
I can go back to rooting for the Wolves to win!
— Agileberners (@agileberners) January 7, 2019
Wow! There have been multiple times this season that news wouldn’t have surprised me. Today is not that day! Timing is interesting! I hope Ryan Saunders crushes it! Will be fun to see him in action. Go Wolves!
— Annika Gill (@Annika_Gill_28) January 7, 2019
“Wolves evaluated”? Who exactly was this? Glen and his minx of a wife?
— Stevens (@HEH4TEME) January 7, 2019
I like to imagine he knew at halftime and decided to leave his starters in a 25 point game with 5mins left for old times sake
— Young Isaac Reign (@IsaacReign10) January 7, 2019
(This probably was the last straw for Wolves management.)
(Been this way ever since they were created.)
This group of players just isn't his forte. Jimmy was the super glue holding it even partway together. Once he left, it was over.
— Josh (@Jmoeschl7) January 7, 2019
(Really? I thought it was Derrick Rose? Oh well.)
https://twitter.com/MrPureNitelife/status/1082071693814833154
(They could really use him in Orlando. Just sayin’.)
— AFunkyDiabetic (@FunkyDiabetic1) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/WallOfWizards/status/1082067336767725570
(This is exactly Jimmy Butler’s reaction right now.)
— Leo (@Leo__ffs) January 7, 2019
Is Jimmy Butler going back there to be a player/coach?
— Dennis G Murphy (@Denman8754) January 7, 2019
If that’s the case, Wiggins is going to need some moral support, ASAP.