Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau thinks Rick Pitino will ‘do an excellent job at St. John’s’

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Tom Thibodeau has recognized Rick Pitino for many years and endorses his blockbuster hiring as St. John’s new males’s basketball coach.

“Simply actually, actually joyful for him. I feel he’s been an excellent coach wherever he’s been,” Thibodeau stated earlier than the Knicks’ 140-134 loss to the Timberwolves Monday night on the Backyard. “He’s been by way of so much. Once I was a younger coach, I used to go watch his practices at Windfall.

“So he’s man, nice coach, and I do know he’ll do an excellent job at St. John’s.”

The 70-year-old Pitino was hired by the Red Storm on Monday after three seasons — and two NCAA Tournament berths — at Iona.

Thibodeau was an assistant coach at Harvard from 1985-89, whereas Pitino was at Windfall from 1985-87.

Pitino was named Knicks coach after main the Friars to the 1987 Closing 4, earlier than returning to the school ranks at Kentucky two years later.


Tom Thibodeau endorses Rick Pitino in new head coach place at St. John’s.
Robert Sabo for NY Submit

On Monday, Rick Pitino accepted his new job at Saint John's as their men's basketball head coach.
On Monday, Rick Pitino accepted his new job at Saint John’s as their males’s basketball head coach.
Getty Photographs

Thibodeau believes Jalen Brunson, who completed with 23 factors and 10 assists, needs to be a candidate for the league’s Most Improved Participant award, which Julius Randle (57 points, four rebounds) won in 2020-21.

Jazz ahead Lauri Markkanen and Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are thought of the favorites for the prize.

“I simply suppose that you simply take a look at what he’s finished. And I feel the vital factor is the influence on profitable, for all our gamers,” Thibodeau stated of Brunson, who went 9-for-18 from the sector and had two turnovers. “And I feel once you win, the by-product of profitable is individuals get acknowledged. So I’m hopeful that he does get acknowledged, however I don’t need it to get misplaced.

“We now have plenty of guys that hopefully might be up for issues, simply don’t lose sight, don’t get sidetracked. [But] it’s the influence he’s had on the workforce … you possibly can’t say sufficient of what he’s meant to our workforce simply from a management standpoint.”


Jalen Brunson looks to make a move against the Timberwolves on Monday night at the Garden.
Jalen Brunson appears to make a transfer in opposition to the Timberwolves on Monday evening on the Backyard.
Robert Sabo

Karl-Anthony Cities (strained proper calf) and Anthony Edwards (proper ankle sprain) have been out for the Timberwolves.

Rudy Gobert (left ankle sprain) was accessible after being listed as questionable.



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