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NBA

Tom Thibodeau could reach into Knicks past for coaching staff

By
Marc Berman
Published May 31, 2020
Updated June 1, 2020, 7:44 a.m. ET

If the Knicks decide on Tom Thibodeau as their next head coach, he will have plenty of time to construct a solid staff.

But the former Knicks assistant may not need much time. Members of Thibodeau’s past staffs in Chicago and Minnesota are likely eager to join him in New York to revive the dead Knicks, according to sources.

The Knicks are not expected to be part of the season’s restart July 31 in Disney World.

That means the Knicks may not play again for another seven months — with Dec. 25 or Jan. 1 being eyed as likely season openers for next season.

The Post reported Friday the Knicks are “a longshot’’ to make the Disney playoff cut. Sources told The Post the only way the Knicks get in is if the Board of Governors vote Thursday to bring back all 30 teams.

That is considered the least likely of the four proposals. ESPN reported the 20-team and 22-team formats are favorites.

“There’s an excellent chance the Knicks won’t be part of it,’’ one NBA source briefed on the conference call told The Post.

Tom Thibodeau
Tom ThibodeauAP

And there’s an excellent chance Thibodeau becomes the Knicks’ top priority in an upcoming coaching search. Knicks president Leon Rose has strong ties with Thibodeau, who became a client of Creative Artists Agency 10 years ago. (Rose ran its basketball department.)

Rose trusts Thibodeau’s old-school formula — a demanding approach that got him fired in Minnesota in January 2019 despite snapping the Timberwolves’ 14-year playoff drought.

The Post reported Feb. 10 that Thibodeau, with a career 352-246 mark, was on Rose’s short list. On May 8, The Post reported league insiders believed Thibodeau was “the favorite.’’

What is less known is whom Thibodeau would bring along on his staff if he takes the job. It has played out as figured with the Knicks getting first crack at Thibodeau, while the interested Rockets and Nets will be involved in the season’s restart.

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While interim coach Mike Miller probably will be retained in some fashion, Thibodeau is likely to go after two former assistants on his ’Wolves staff — brothers Andy Greer, a former Knicks assistant coach, and Larry Greer, now a Suns assistant.

Andy Greer and Thibodeau go back to their Knicks days. Greer, a Brockport State graduate, was a Knicks assistant from 2001-2003 and was by Thibs’ side in Chicago and Minnesota as essentially a defensive coordinator.

Greer, a former head coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Long Island from 1993-97, has recently been involved with USA Basketball after sitting out this past season.

Thibodeau may also look to bring back John Lucas, his player-developmental guy in Minnesota. Thibodeau served as an assistant under Lucas in Philadelphia in the mid-1990s. Ed Pickney was also on Thibodeau’s Minny staff.

According to sources, another unsung but key target of Thibodeau’s will likely be coaching associate Dice Yoshimoto, who was with Thibs in both Chicago and Minnesota.

People familiar with the set-up have described Yoshimoto as a “baseball utilityman.’’ Yoshimoto is at the University of Georgia as director of strategy.

“He was on floor working players out, he does video, game-planning — he’s just around Thibs all the time,’’ one person familiar with the situation said.

One interesting assistant candidate also could be former Knicks guard Rick Brunson, who was on Thibodeau’s staff in Chicago and Minnesota. Brunson, whose son Jalen plays for Dallas, resigned in 2018 after allegations of misconduct with a massage therapist arose.

Brunson has been head coach at Camden High School. It should be noted Brunson was Rose’s first NBA client when Brunson joined the Knicks in 1999. Brunson became Latrell Sprewell’s best friend on the team.