Two key characters from the Tom Thibodeau era expressed their appreciation for their former coach ahead of their return to MSG, with one – Julius Randle – saying he wasn’t surprised by the firing and the other – Donte DiVincenzo – more shocked by New York’s playoff success.
“At the end of the day, business is business, and they also have a great coach in Mike Brown,” DiVincenzo, the Timberwolves guard who faced the Knicks in Thursday’s preseason game, said in an interview with The Post. “But I was surprised. They reached the Eastern Conference finals.”
DiVincenzo, a longtime outspoken supporter of Thibs, added that the controversy over the distribution of the minutes — the third railroad topic surrounding Thibodeau — was tied to his desire to win and was often embraced by players. According to sources, there was a general fatigue with Thibodeau’s one-size-fits-all coaching and communication style, with staffers and players demanding more input.
“Everyone has their philosophy and every player wants to play. The thing about Thibs is he tried to win every game,” DiVincenzo said. “If you look at the list, guys had career years under Thibs. You could say whatever the reason is, but the facts are guys had career years and guys loved playing for him.”
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