Tom Thibodeau’s “slander” continues – and it’s not just the media.
Former Pacers All-Star forward David West slammed the Knicks rental, saying they should have gone with a younger manager who relates better to the players.
West told The Athletic that he saw how badly Thibodeau handled the players on the Timberland Wolves during the 2017 preseason. Thibodeau was fired in January 2019.
West’s comments come a day after Thibodeau’s partner, Jeff Van Gundy, said the media perpetuated a “big slander” about the new Knicks manager.
“My thing about renting Knicks is (that) I saw (while) competing against the (Thibodeau) Timberwolves, whoever is honest with you, they saw how that situation had deteriorated,” said West. “And the perspective of that situation, in my opinion, was like, ‘Oh yes, it’s over there. Like, they’re done.
“We went to China with that crew (in 2017) and played two games against them, and it’s like ‘Yo.’ The guys weren’t responding, and I’m like “Friend, this is preseason. We haven’t made it to the championship yet, and these guys aren’t responding.”
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West’s reference to 2017 is ironic since it was the season in which Thibodeau broke the franchise’s 13-year playoff drought. When he was fired, relationships emerged from his relationship with young stars like Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins was weak.
“From that point of view, and then looking at what the Knicks are – it’s a young team, they have a lot of young people (players) that I feel, (they are) young and talented kids there,” said West, who played 15 years in the NBA and retired after that 2017-18 season.
“I wasn’t a fan of bringing that kind of style to them. I thought there are coaches who haven’t had this type of opportunity (who were more suited for this). “
The Knicks interviewed 11 candidates, including young assistants Jason Kidd, Jamahl Mosley, Ime Udoka and Will Hardy.
“I think Knicks’ job is a great job, regardless of the state of the franchise. They’re still the Knicks, “said West.” I just thought they could have gone in a different direction. And it brought someone young who probably could relate better to the players. You can ask guys, whoever attended that casino in Minnesota would you will say that … that was, it wasn’t about the players. That’s all I will say. “
On Tuesday, Suns coach Monty Williams, who worked with Thibodeau on Team USA’s 2016 Olympic team, contested that sentiment against 62-year-old Thibodeau.
“I laugh at all these people who say he is unable to develop younger players and who wears down his teams,” Williams said on SiriusXM Radio. “See the success of your programs, teams and results are proof of this.”
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