Miami Heat small forward Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau have a very close relationship, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the All-Star is confident Thibs is going to turn the New York Knicks into a winner again.

Thibodeau coached Butler on the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. He's now the man in charge of the Knicks and Butler has a bold claim about what Thibodeau will accomplish in New York.

“He's going to do great. He's going to turn those young guys into some real players; some superstars, some All-Stars,” Jimmy Butler said about new Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, via ESPN.

“I know he's been itching for this. I know he's been preparing for it. When you talk about Thibs and the big stage I think they go hand in hand.”

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Thibodeau used to be an assistant on Jeff Van Gundy's Knicks staff back in the day. It's all come full circle for the former Coach of the Year, who called the Knicks gig his dream job.

The roster Thibodeau is inheriting in New York is headlined by RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Julius Randle, Kevin Knox and Dennis Smith Jr. The Knicks won only 21 games in 2019-20 before the season was suspended in March. The franchise hasn't had a winning record or made the playoffs since the 2012-13 campaign.

New York fans are praying Leon Rose and Thibodeau can save the organization from owner James Dolan and make the team relevant again.