Tom Thibodeau moving forward, ready to coach again

Former Minnesota Timberwolves coach and president of team operations Tom Thibodeau tells On The Mark he is ready for his next opportunity.

Tom Thibodeau did not hesitate when asked if he wants to coach again.

“Oh yeah. We will sit back and see what opportunities come my way and if there is something that is a good fit, I will certainly look at it,” Thibodeau confirmed.

Thibodeau was fired abruptly in early January, less than a full year removed from having helped lead the Timberwolves to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The team was 19-21.

The season never had a chance with star Jimmy Butler determined to force a trade. It finally happened after the team started 4-9, having lost their last five. Butler wanted out in the offseason, but his request was not granted.

“I really thought we would be able to work everything out,” Thibodeau explained. “In doing the deal with Chicago, I felt it was a really good deal for both teams. We had not been in the playoffs in 13 years. We had 12 consecutive years of losing seasons. So I knew we had to change it. When Jimmy came in, everything changed. All of a sudden it opened the door for us to go get other great players who wanted to come here.”

But this was not the same humble Butler, that Thibodeau helped raise into an All-NBA player. Right or wrong, Jimmy was going to get what Jimmy wanted.

“It was unfortunate. I think it’s the reality of today’s NBA. We weren’t the only team to go through that. You are seeing it all over the league and it’s unfortunate. I felt strongly that this was the best place for him, but you know Jimmy didn’t feel that way so unfortunately it didn’t work out,” Thibodeau acknowledged.

“There were a lot of reasons that went into that, and normally I would say that when a player is at the end of his contract and he has earned the right to be a free agent, he has those options, but in today’s NBA, we are seeing players move around a lot more frequently.”

Thibodeau was recently in Chicago to check out the documentary Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story by watchstadium.com. 

“I thought they did a terrific job. I thought they captured who he is, what he went through, what he means to the city, what the city means to him, what the Bulls mean to him. I was glad for Derrick, I think a lot of people got a chance to see who he really is. You can see what kind of person he really is and how his teammates feel about him. Everyone of his teammates have really loved playing with him.”

Rose is a free agent, unlikely to return to Minnesota. Perhaps there will be a third reunion down the line with Thibodeau.

On the Mark Thibodeau Podcast :

2:26-8:10   Derrick Rose documentary, Rose MVP season, Bulls championship aspirations before knee injury

8:15-17:45  Bringing Rose to Minnesota, Derrick and Jimmy Butler playing together again, Thibs work ethic, coaching philosophy

17:50-23:00 Young Thibs, parents, college career, coaches who helped him, Tark,

23:15 – 30:00 Knicks, 90’s basketball, Jeff Van Gundy, style of play today, playoff predictions

30:00- Finish Chicago turning on Rose, Rose maybe playing for Bulls again, Bulls organization, Noah, Taj