Derrick Rose has been around Tom Thibodeau for significant chunks of his NBA career, teaming up in previous stops in Chicago and Minnesota, before reuniting with the Knicks again this month.
Rose claims that Thibodeau seems to be having more fun in his first season with the Knicks in improvement than the former league MVP can remember from his past experience with the intense circle coach.
“I mean, in Chicago, it was the first time he had a team. So it was different, “Rose said Monday. “But in Minny, it was clear that he only caught up with the new league. There are kids who are in the league now. They are young. He’s trying to figure it out.
“And Thibs has more patience [now] Than anything. Just being here, appreciating the situation, appreciating it much more, is a blessing to be here. But you can tell he’s just a completely different person now. Smile. I’ve never seen him smile as much as he does now. So it rubs me. I feel his energy. ”
The Rising Knicks (14-15) will look to complete their first four-game winning streak of the season in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, where a win would move their record to .500 to 30 games after the season is over. passed the 21-45 mark under David Fizdale and Mike Miller.
Thibodeau laughed on Monday when Rose was quoted about the smile more, but he didn’t deny it either.
“When you get a team that is committed to playing for each other and doing the right things, I want to be happy too,” Thibodeau said. “But the work component is important and mutual sacrifice is important. When these things happen, it’s nice. It’s a wonderful group to be in every day. ”
Julius Randle, who made another All-Star push with 44 points in Monday’s home win over Atlanta, said something similar about Thibodeau in a pre-game appearance on ESPN’s “The Michael Kay Show.” .
Randle laughed for a few seconds when asked about Thibodeau, often giving the impression that he “never enjoys anything.”
“Oh, man, it’s honest, he’s probably going to kill me because I said that, but it’s soft inside, man. It’s not all as hard as the character, “Randle said. “She is definitely a beast. He’s going to train hard, he’s going to be tough on you.
“But honestly, man, the trial, we’re all happy. We have fun with this process. We like to train. Obviously, when you see the results of things and how things work and how we improve as a team, you have to have fun with the process. And we are happy ”.
Randle added that “Thibodeau’s attention to detail is incredible,” especially at the defensive end of the floor. He also called his coach “a complete culture changer, for sure.”
“Everyone, when I talked to the boys in the summer and the boys in the main office, that was my job. We wanted someone to come in and train us hard, to hold everyone accountable, ”Randle said. “That’s exactly what Thibs did.”
Rose, 32, added that Thibodeau’s reunion in New York was his priority in his desire to leave Detroit, where the season began. Pistons coach Dwane Casey had said last week that he thought Rose wanted to go out simply because the team hadn’t committed to winning.
“It simply came to our notice then. I just wanted to play for Thibs, a lot, “Rose said. “I had a conversation with [Casey]and New York grew up. And I was just praying for the deal to end. ”