Jalen Brunson says Tom Thibodeau ‘meant a lot to my career’

Greenburgh, Ny – Jalen Brunson admitted that it was difficult for him to see Tom Thibodeau, whom he has known since childhood, leaves the New York Knicks.

Brunson spoke publicly for the first time since the Knicks dismissed Thibodeau in June, ending his five -year coaching mandate punctuated by the first appearance of New York in the final of the Eastern Conference since 2000.

“I think it is obviously sad to see a man that I have known for a long time with this organization,” said Brunson on Tuesday during the media day of the opening of the Knicks. “But he heard a lot for me. I expressed this to him, publicly and personally. He meant a lot for my career to this point.”

Brunson’s relationship with Thibodeau dates back to childhood, because his father, Rick, were both assistant coaches to the staff of Thibodeau coaches with the Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rick Brunson also played under Thibodeau when he was an assistant coach with the Houston Knicks and Rockets.

After having come to the Knicks as a free agent three years ago, Brunson turned into one of the best players in the league, making all-star teams and all-nba consecutive while leading New York to series in three consecutive seasons for the first time in a generation, including the final of last year’s conference.

All this, however, was not enough to save Thibodeau’s work because he was dismissed shortly after the Knicks lost in six games against the Indiana Pacers at the dawn of the NBA finals.

Brunson, 29, collected on average 26.4 points per game in three seasons under Thibodeau and was appointed player of the year of the NBA clutch last season. After the defeat of the end of New York season 6 in Indiana, he was asked that Thibodeau is the right coach for work in the future.

“Is this a real question right now? You just asked me if I think he’s the right guy,” said Brunson at the time. “Yes. Come on.”

Brunson, like the rest of the Knicks, adopts an optimistic position on what the new coach Mike Brown will be.

It also marks the second consecutive year that Knicks will enter the season after making significant changes after the success of the playoffs. New York exchanged against Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges last summer.

“Yeah, well, for me, it’s my job to go there and find a way to help this team win,” said Brunson. “There are different people in this organization with different jobs and different things they have to do to improve this team. And it is their point of view. For me, I have to come and do my work at best my abilities.”

Although he did not have the permanent relationship with Thibodeau that Brunson has, Josh Hart also quickly forged a fort with the coach during their and a half season working together. Hart appreciated the best season of his career last season under Thibodeau with the Knicks, on average summit in the career in the rebounds (9.6), the assists (5.9) and the flights (1.5).

Hart also said he would miss the presence of Thibodeau around the franchise, but that he was optimistic about the future work with Brown.

“Obviously, I love Thibs,” said Hart. “I’m always going to have love for Thibs for the things he helped and put me in position to be paid. So I always have love for him. I hope he’s going well now.

“But obviously, we have Mike and we are extremely excited by what he brings to the table offensively and defensively. Obviously, there will be a feeling of feeling of feeling, but we are delighted with what this team has, what this team can be.”