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Tom Thibodeau left the Chicago Bulls in the May of 2015 under tense circumstances. His relationship with the front office had broken down and the hope invested in the team’s core had disintegrated. A change in coaching staff was deemed necessary.
When he joined the Bulls in 2010, Thibodeau found a way to win big with a roster that included Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. The team adopted a defence-first mentality and found a way to outwork their opponents, grinding their way to victory after victory. While in Chicago, Thibodeau reached the Eastern Conference finals once and the semi-finals twice. Unfortunately, it occurred during a peak period of the LeBron James era.
Rose and Noah, who were considered Chicago’s natural leaders, are now members of the New York Knicks. Thibodeau has a new home in Minnesota as the head coach of the youthful, exciting Timberwolves team.
Rose’s injury woes and other important issues meant that the championship hopes of that group of players became unrealistic, and now the dream if officially over:
“It's sort of the nature of the league. It doesn't last forever,” Thibodeau said to CSN Chicago's Vincent Goodwill. “That was a special group of guys. From where they started, and unfortunately the injuries derailed it some but it was a very prideful group, a proud group. They never gave up, never succumbed to the circumstances. They found different ways to win, different guys stepped up. That's the way the league works. Over time, people leave with free agency, change teams. I'm happy for those guys that they're gonna get another opportunity. They've earned it.”
When asked how he will remember his time with the Bulls, Thibs had nothing but positive things to say:
“A lot of great memories. Five years coaching and I stayed last year,” he said. “I love the city, the fans were great to me the whole time. You look back, you think of all the great memories you have. Great history, great tradition and we had great guys. It was very enjoyable to coach that team.”
