Jeff Van Gundy can be proud, since he was the one who originally hired Tom Thibodeau for his Knicks staff in 1996, and is considered a mentor to the Knicks’ next head coach.
“I am extremely happy for Tom and equally happy for the Knicks as they hired an elite coach who will give everything he has to turn the Knicks around,” Van Gundy said in an email to The Post.
Van Gundy was not involved in the Knicks’ coaching hunt, which culminated Saturday with the Knicks and Thibodeau in the process of finalizing a five-year contract.
Another NBA source spoke highly of Thibodeau, 62, who left as an assistant to the Knicks in 2004 and then served as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls, where he won the NBA Coach of the Year in 2011.
“His attention to detail is as good as possible,” said an NBA coach, who declined to be identified because the Knicks have not yet officially announced the hiring. “There is no stone left unturned. Off the court, he has a better sense of humor than anyone would expect and a good moral compass. ”
Thibdodeau’s record for victories is undeniable, which is key for a Knicks team that has not made the playoffs in seven seasons. Thibodeau was one of Doc Rivers’ top assistants with the Celtics when Boston won the title in 2008 and reached the finals the following season. He worked with Van Gundy when the Knicks reached the final in 1999.
Thibodeau made the playoffs five consecutive seasons as Chicago’s head coach, recording the NBA’s best record in two consecutive seasons. And he broke Minnesota’s 13-year-old playoff drought despite charges he failed to connect with young players.
A potential free-agent target Thibodeau could be on board with is Carmelo Anthony, whom he chased as the Bulls’ coach in 2014.
“It’s great news,” Magic coach and former Knicks assistant Steve Clifford told reporters in Orlando of the Knicks’ hiring of Thibodeau. “He is one of my closest friends. He is one of the best coaches in the league and understands New York. New York is a different animal. He is a great coach, so he will do very well there. It’s a great deal on your part. “
The Knicks interviewed a total of 11 with the search as of June 4 after the NBA announced that they would not be part of the NBA restart.
Most of the league’s observers found most of the interviews to be courtesy, especially the five inexperienced assistant coaches as coaches: Ime Udoka, Wes Hardy, Chris Fleming, Pat Delaney, and Jamahl Mosley.
“Tom has always been her man,” said an NBA source.
.
