Derrick Rose attended Tom Thibodeau for important pieces of his NBA career. He teamed up in previous stops in Chicago and Minnesota before reuniting with the Knicks this month.
Rose argues that Thibodeau apparently has more fun in his first season with the improved Knicks than the former league MVP can remember from his previous experience with the famous intense coach of the hoops.
‘I mean, in Chicago it was the first time he had a team. So it was different, “Rose said on Monday. ‘But in Minny you could see that he was just catching up with the new league. There are kids who are in the league right now. They are young. They are trying to figure themselves out.
‘And Thibs has more patience [now] than anything. To just be here, to appreciate the situation, to appreciate him much more, it is a blessing to be here. But you can see that he is now just a very different person. He smiled. I’ve never seen him smile so much as now. So it rubs me off. I feel his energy. ”
The rising Knicks (14-15) will complete their first four-game winning streak of the season on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida, where a win would also move their record to 0.500 to 30 games after finishing with a 21 last season. -45 mark under David Fizdale and Mike Miller.
Thibodeau laughed Monday when Rose’s quote about more smiles was conveyed to him, but he also did not deny it.
“If you get a team that is committed to playing for each other and doing the right things, I also want us to enjoy it,” Thibodeau said. ‘But the work component is important and sacrifice for each other is important. When these things happen, it’s pleasant. This is a wonderful group to be with every day. ”
Julius Randle, who made another insistence on All-Star consideration with 44 points in Monday’s home win over Atlanta, said something similar about Thibodeau in an appearance before the match on ‘The Michael Kay Show’ on the ESPN radio.
Randle laughed for a few seconds when asked about Thibodeau, who often gives the impression that he is ‘never happy about anything’.
‘Oh man, he’s honest, he’s probably going to kill me for saying that, but he’s soft on the inside, man. He’s not all difficult like the persona, ‘Randle said. “He’s definitely an animal. He’s going to coach you hard, and he’s going to be tough on you.
‘But honestly, man, the process, we all enjoy it. We enjoy the process. We like to be coached. Obviously, if you see the results of things and how things work out and how we get better as a team, you should have fun with the process. And we enjoy it. ”
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. ‘
‘All of us, when I was talking to the guys and guys in the front office this summer, it was my thing. I wanted someone to come in and coach us hard, and hold everyone accountable, ”Randle said. “That’s exactly what Thibs did.”
The 32-year-old Rose added that rejoining Thibodeau in New York, his priority is to want to leave Detroit, where he started the season. Pistons coach Dwane Casey said last week that he believes Rose wants just because the team is not committed to winning.
“No, that was not it. I just wanted to play for Thibs, ”said Rose. ‘I had a conversation with [Casey], and he raised New York. And I just prayed that the deal was done. ”