-
Tim Bontemps
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Jalen Brunson admitted it was laborious for him to see Tom Thibodeau, whom he is recognized since childhood, depart the New York Knicks.
Brunson spoke publicly for the primary time for the reason that Knicks fired Thibodeau in June, ending his five-year teaching tenure punctuated by New York’s first look within the Japanese Convention finals since 2000.
“I believe clearly it is unhappy to see a person I’ve recognized for a very long time half methods with this group,” Brunson mentioned Tuesday on the Knicks’ season-opening media day. “However he is meant so much to me. I’ve expressed that to him, publicly and personally. He is meant so much to my profession up up to now.”
Brunson’s relationship with Thibodeau goes again to childhood, as his father, Rick, has each served as an assistant coach on Thibodeau’s teaching staffs with the Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. Rick Brunson additionally performed below Thibodeau when he was an assistant coach with each the Knicks and Houston Rockets.
After coming to the Knicks as a free agent three years in the past, Brunson has morphed into one of many league’s finest gamers, making back-to-back All-Star and All-NBA groups whereas main New York to playoff sequence wins in three consecutive seasons for the primary time in a technology, together with final 12 months’s convention finals run.
All of that, although, wasn’t sufficient to avoid wasting Thibodeau’s job, as he was fired shortly after the Knicks misplaced in six video games to the Indiana Pacers on the cusp of the NBA Finals.
Brunson, 29, averaged 26.4 factors per sport in his three seasons below Thibodeau and was named the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the 12 months final season. After New York’s season-ending Recreation 6 loss in Indiana, he was requested about Thibodeau being the appropriate coach for the job transferring ahead.
“Is that an actual query proper now? You simply requested me if I consider he is the appropriate man,” Brunson mentioned on the time. “Sure. Come on.”
Brunson, like the remainder of the Knicks, is taking an optimistic stance about what working with new coach Mike Brown will probably be like.
It additionally marks the second straight 12 months that the Knicks will enter the season having made important adjustments after playoff success. New York traded for Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges final summer season.
“Yeah, effectively, for me, it is my job to go on the market and simply discover a means to assist this workforce win,” Brunson mentioned. “There’s completely different individuals on this group with completely different jobs and various things they should do to make this workforce higher. And that is their viewpoint. For me, I’ve to return in and do my job to the very best of my talents.”
Whereas he did not have the lifelong relationship with Thibodeau that Brunson has, Josh Hart additionally rapidly cast a powerful one with the coach throughout their season-and-a-half working collectively. Hart loved the very best season of his profession final season below Thibodeau with the Knicks, averaging profession highs in rebounds (9.6), assists (5.9) and steals (1.5).
Hart additionally mentioned he would miss Thibodeau’s presence across the franchise, however that he was optimistic concerning the future working with Brown.
“Clearly, I like Thibs,” Hart mentioned. “I am at all times going to have love for Thibs for the issues that he helped me with and placing me able to receives a commission. So I at all times acquired love for him. Hope he is doing effectively proper now.
“However clearly, we’ve Mike and we’re extraordinarily enthusiastic about what he brings to the desk offensively and defensively. Clearly, there’s going to be a little bit little bit of a feeling-out course of, however we’re excited. We’re excited for what this workforce has, what this workforce could be.”