Tom Thibodeau has signed a five-year deal that makes him the New York Knicks head coach, Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN reported.
The New York Knicks and Tom Thibodeau are finalizing a five-year deal to make him the franchise’s next coach, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 25, 2020
New York, a team that hasn't made the playoffs in six years, finished 21-45 this season.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Thibodeau is 11th. all-time in winning percentage for coaches with 500 or more games. He has a 352-246 (.589) record in eight seasons with Chicago and Minnesota.
Amongst his accolades, the coach led Chicago to five playoff seasons with the Bulls, including a trip to the Eastern Conference finals and an NBA coach of the year award in 2010. While in Minnesota, Thibodeau also coached the Timberwolves to a first playoff berth in 14 years.
This won't be his first tenure at Manhattan though, as he was a Knicks assistant coach under Jeff Van Gundy from 1996 to 2004.
It is expected that Knicks interim coach Mike Miller and former Knicks head coach Mike Woodson will be added as assistant coaches on his staff.
New York has a great young core with some important trade pieces, including RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Moe Harkless and Frank Ntilikina.