David West, upset by the Knicks, is hiring Tom Thibodeau as coach

Tom Thibodeau has been fired by two NBA teams in the past five years.

But once again, Thibodeau will get another job as the Knicks are finalizing a five-year contract with former Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday, citing sources.

The news that Thibodeau is having another chance to coach a team did not sit well with former Warriors big man David West.

When former NBA center Kendrick Perkins tweeted that Thibodeau was a great employee for the Knicks, West disagreed.

Thibodeau tends to be tough on his players, which doesn’t sit well with some. West went a step further by saying that Thibodeau “destroys” the players.

West also noted that three black coaches, including former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson, have not had a first or second opportunity to train in the NBA.

While Jackson did not win any NBA titles with the Warriors, he is credited with laying the foundation for the Golden State dynasty. Current coach Steve Kerr often accuses Jackson of what he did with the Warriors. But since the Warriors let him go after the 2013-14 season, Jackson has had no other head coach opportunity. He has spent the past few years as an NBA analyst for ESPN.

Lue won an NBA title while coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers and went to two more NBA Finals. But after being fired by the Cavs earlier in the 2018-19 season, Lue was not hired by another team. This season, he has been an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ewing was a Knicks superstar, has been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame and is currently the head coach of the Georgetown men’s basketball team. In three seasons, he is 49-46.

Wojnarowski reported that two assistant coaches, Jamahl Mosley of the Dallas Mavericks and Will Hardy of the San Antonio Spurs, made “strong impressions” at the Knicks’ office, but ultimately failed to get the job.

The Knicks are a young team looking for someone to build a foundation for success. And in New York, a first-time head coach could be overwhelmed by media coverage and expectations, so in that sense, choosing Thibodeau over Mosley, Hardy Ewing makes sense.

But choosing Thibodeau over Lue or Jackson, who have been successful at the NBA level, seems like a strange choice.