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For a head coach as renowned as Tom Thibodeau, the reaction that greeted his hiring as lead man for the New York Knicks was anything but jubilant.
While there remained some optimism among the fanbase that the former coach of the year would be able to lift the franchise back into relevance, Thibs' reluctance towards participating in a rebuilding process was a worrying sign for a team that clearly needed to grow from the ground up. After spending the previous two decades in the wilderness thanks to a penchant for hitting the fast-forward button through key stages of the team's development, Thibodeau's aversion to playing rookies and unfinished products appeared to be the last thing the doctor ordered for the Knicks and their long-tortured fanbase.
Nine months later, not only do those fears look overblown, but the Knicks have succeeded in large part because of their ability to develop players; the type of approach that is vital when seeking to pair short-term success with long-term stability.
Consider the team's current MVP Julius Randle. Though no longer a prospect, the seven-year pro has paced the Knicks into playoff consideration thanks to his transformation into the team's lead ball-handler. By placing the ball in his hands early in possessions, Thibodeau has made it a point to run a series of off-ball actions designed to get Randle mismatches near the elbow.
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From there, the 6'8 forward has an unobstructed view of the court where he can choose to direct traffic with his passing– accounting for nearly 27% of the team's total assists–attack off the dribble, or shoot over the top–where his jump shot has developed into a weapon to be feared, producing over 1.1 points per possession, according to Synergy Sports.
Just as important, Thibs' willingness to deploy Randle as point-forward has not come in isolation. Instead, the former coach of the year has helped develop RJ Barrett into a productive running mate alongside Randle, with his breakout sophomore campaign banishing the nightmare that was his rookie season. While Randle and Barrett rightly deserve the bulk of the recognition for putting in the work to improve their respective skillsets, Thibodeau undoubtedly deserves credit for succeeding where past Knicks coaches have largely failed.
This, in many ways, cuts to the heart of the Knicks' success this season and its importance for the future of the franchise.
Despite operating in the country's largest media market, with the highest valuation of any other franchise in the league, New York has too often been passed over by star-free agents because of a lack of infrastructure. Though it may not be as glamorous as competing for a title, Thibodeau's ability to develop talent and establish a culture around the team could prove as valuable as any free agent signing.
In a league that values process over results, the Knicks often boasted little of either. That no longer is the case, nor is the promised land far off. The New York Knicks are the future of the Eastern Conference.
