The Knicks owe a debt of gratitude to Tom Thibodeau, who instilled the mental toughness that made all the difference for the Knicks in the postseason and especially against the Spurs in the Finals. Not a coincidence that Jalen Brunson blossomed into a superstar under Thibs.
-- May 10th 1973: A joyous Dave DeBusschere talks with reporters as he ices his ankle and has a beer after the New York Knicks won the NBA Title at the fabulous Forum over the Los Angeles Lakers 102-93 --
Give Mike Brown a lot of credit but Thibs developed Brunson, Hart, Robinson, Randle, McBride, Toppin, Divencenzo, Barrett and Hartenstein. Shamet was hurt last year and Clarkson was added this year. Never forget who built the culture and developed the players.
Shout out to Mike Brown for carrying the torch.
But I want to give Coach #Thibs a special thnx you from the bottom of my New York Knicks heart.
I love you Thibs.
A.) After Patrick Ewing and before Thibs we missed the Playoffs 16/20 years.
B.) Before Thibs single handedly changed the entire New York culture of our locker room he inherited a James Dolan Knicks Franchise in complete and utter NBA darkness who had missed the Playoffs throughout 7 consecutive below .500 losing years in a row of no Playoffs.
C.) Thibs took over a 21 team coming off 61 losses and immediately led us into the Playoffs as a 4 seed while ending our 7 year Playoff drought during his 1st year as Knicks head coach.
D.) Thibs led New York to the Playoffs 4/5 Years.
E.). Thibs led New York into the Playoffs during 3 consecutive years in a row.
F.) Thibs led us to back to back 50+ wins seasons for the first time in 30 years.
G.) Thibs eliminated Cleveland + Philadelphia + Detroit and Boston.
H.) Thibs developed R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley into OG Anunoby.
I.) Thibs didn't play Cam Reddish in order to force a trade for Josh Hart.
J.) Thibs developed Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo into Karl-Anthony Towns.
K.) Thibs developed Deuce McBride into the killer he is today.
L.) Thibs developed Mitchell Robinson for 5 years into the beast he is today.
M.) We traded 5 first round picks for Mikal Bridges because Leon Rose knew we were building a Championship caliber contender.
N.) Thibs gave Jalen Brunson the keys to the PG car and let Jalen Brunson become a 2x All-Star + 2x All-NBA + 4th Quarter Clutch Player of the Year.
O.) The Playoff experience that the likes of Jalen Brunson + Josh Hart + Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride gained under Thibs (Cleveland/Miami/Philadelphia/Indiana/Detroit/Boston and Indiana) is how we're where we are today.
P.) It was Thibs lifelong childhood dream to one day coach the New York Knicks because he grew up as a diehard Knicks fan since dating back to the days of his dad taking him from Connecticut to Madison Square Garden in order to watch Walt Clyde Frazier and Willis Reed play live.
Q.) Thibs installed no fear and no quit mentality into our Core-7 last year into Jalen Brunson + Josh Hart + Mikal Bridges + OG Anunoby + Karl-Anthony Towns + Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride and it's why we made 3 20+ 2nd half Comebacks against Detroit and Boston (2x) during the Playoffs last year before coming back from down 22 against Cleveland here in 2026.
R.) Thibs gave me an NBA Coach who brought respect back to my New York Knicks Franchise for the first time since Patrick Ewing.
S.) Thibs made New York Knicks basketball fun for me again for the first time since Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy.
T.) Thibs demanded effort, hustle, grind and fight and it's still paying dividends still to this day.
U.) Thibs prepared our Core-8 of Mitchell Robinson, Deuce McBride, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns and Landry Shamet for (this moment).
V.) We've since made the Playoffs 5/6 years.
W.) We've since made the Playoffs 4 years in a row.
X.) We've since won 50+ Games throughout 3 consecutive years in a row.
Y.) Thibs was fired. He never quit on New York like both Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy quit. He put his blood sweat and tears into his New York Knicks team.
Z.) Only 6 years later (since Thibs) and we're now in the 2026 NBA Finals.
I'll never forget what Coach #Thibs did for my favorite New York Knicks Franchise he developed us into true NBA Title contenders and I'll never let the Knicks Championship book be written without first and foremost having multiple A-Z chapters being written about Coach Thibs.
"The Journey".
Expert Picks → @cjbyronnelson
This is fantasy at its finest. Those of us sans Scheffler starts have made our bed. Those with Scheffler to burn are still dreaming.
https://t.co/SBMiLA4EXJ
When MJ did not make his Varsity basketball team, his Mother did NOT:
1) complain to the school
2) call the coach
3) demand a meeting with the AD
Deloria Jordan simply told MJ “work harder.”
~ via @JMMontgomeryCo
A New Hampshire school’s only deaf student once felt alone, able to communicate only with his aide, until classmates, teachers and eventually the entire school learned sign language to connect with him. @SteveHartmanCBS is On the Road.