The reported firing of Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau was much more than a business move to get the fan base back from the abyss, after attendance numbers dropped from 21st in the league in 2017-18 to penultimate this season.

Thibodeau's old school style of coaching had rubbed players the wrong way, from his preference to say things in a need-to-know basis to his repeated insistence in favoring his starters, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

“He also frustrated some players with a lack of communication and a preference to play his starters heavy minutes, and the pot was showing signs of boiling over. After a win over Orlando on Friday night, backup center Gorgui Dieng was openly seething in the locker room and had to be calmed down by Derrick Rose. Tyus Jones, Anthony Tolliver and Jeff Teague are among others who have had their concerns.”

Dieng was a starter in the midst of his best season before Thibodeau brought in his former Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson, a player that immediately took over his spot in the rotation, despite doing the same things Dieng did on the floor.

Dieng went from starting all 82 games in 2016-17 to none the next season through 79 appearances — seeing his minutes nearly halved and his value as a player plummeting right with his playing time.

The fan base had also grown tired of his resistance to trade Jimmy Butler once his trade request went public, along with his lack of desire to play young players like Tyus Jones and an exciting rookie in Josh Okogie.

Thibodeau's end was coming, no matter where from, as a 19-21 record and 11th place in the West could do little to save his job with so many factors going against him through 2.5 years of tenure in the Twin Cities.