Former NBA guard Jeff Teague recently shared insights into the coaching style of Tom Thibodeau, following the New York Knicks’ decision to fire their head coach. During a recent episode of his podcast, “Club 520,” Teague provided a unique perspective on Thibodeau, whom he played under during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2017 to 2019.
Teague humorously imitated Thibodeau while addressing misconceptions that label him as a difficult coach to play for. “Thibs has got a way of letting you be you,” Teague explained. He pointed out that many assume Thibodeau is rigid and demanding, saying, “Everybody thinks Thibs is this hard coach to play for, that he’s like, ‘Ahh, you got to do it this way.’” However, Teague contradicted this notion, stating, “He really don’t say s–t … He don’t be like, ‘Teague go here’ or ‘Do this.’”
Instead of micromanaging his players, Teague described Thibodeau’s approach as more laid-back. “He just kind of be like, ‘Damn! Dammit man! Damn!’ That’s all he say … You can shoot any time. You can run anything,” he added, highlighting a more relaxed coaching dynamic than many fans might expect.
Teague's time with the Timberwolves was marked by significant achievements, including leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance in 14 years during the 2017-18 season. Despite his success, Thibodeau was fired in January 2019, ending a tenure that included a 97-107 record with the team. Teague, who was a first-round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and retired after winning a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, acknowledged Thibodeau's strengths, particularly his defensive prowess.
Despite his fondness for Thibodeau, Teague pointed out areas for improvement in his coaching methods. “Thibs, that’s my dawg, I love him to death, but he doesn’t let anybody do anything on the coaching staff … those other coaches can leave,” Teague remarked. He emphasized that Thibodeau should consider involving his assistant coaches more in the offensive strategy. “There are some young creative minds on that bench. I know people who can see the game in a different way. He should just use them sometimes. But he calls every play … I don’t think he should’ve been fired but he definitely needs offense,” Teague concluded.
The Knicks’ decision to part ways with Thibodeau came just three days after they were eliminated from the Eastern Conference finals by the Indiana Pacers in six games. This was a notable moment for the Knicks, marking their first conference finals appearance in 25 years. Thibodeau, who had signed a three-year extension with the team the previous summer, had successfully led the Knicks to back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since 1995. Throughout his coaching career, he has maintained a 48-55 playoff record.
As the Knicks navigate this pivotal moment in their franchise history, the focus will shift to finding a new head coach who can build on the foundation laid by Thibodeau and lead the team to future success.
