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Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif
Despite a first appearance in the Conference Finals in 25 years, the Knicks have decided to part company with Tom Thibodeau, the architect of their comeback. And according to Gilbert Arenas, the franchise has a clear idea in mind for his replacement.
Last summer, the Knicks pulled out all the stops to capitalize on their momentum and return to the top of the Eastern Conference. Already, they had acquired the services of Mikal Bridges, a winger renowned for his defense, outside skills and availability. Never injured, capable of playing big minutes, he was the ideal profile for Tom Thibodeau.
Then they turned to Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the best pivots in the league. And this rapid rebuilding could have paid off in the very first season, as the New Yorkers reached the Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. Unfortunately, elimination by the Pacers proved fatal for the coach, ahead of a possible trade this summer.
Are the Knicks waiting for Rick Brunson on the bench?
What’s surprising is that the Knicks don’t seem to have a clearly defined plan to replace “Thibs”. They have requested interviews with a number of existing coaches, including Jason Kidd and Quin Snyder. For Gilbert Arenas, it’s all part of a carefully thought-out strategy to fill the shoes of leader Jalen Brunson.
What the Knicks are doing is offering the coaching job to people who are already under contract with other franchises, knowing that the response will be negative. You give the whole planet the impression that you’re actively looking for someone for the job. But in the end, they’ll simply hire Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father, who was an assistant to Tom Thibodeau.
Gilbert Arenas is convinced that the Knicks aren’t probing coaches already under contract by chance. The former Wizards coach believes that they are using the numerous rejections as a smokescreen to hire the man they really want: Rick Brunson. But does this hypothesis make sense in sporting terms?
In the wake of the team’s elimination in the conference final, a rather serious rumour has been circulating in the media. Indeed, several players on the squad are said to be annoyed by Brunson’s presence on Tom Thibodeau’s staff, as it would give Jalen a certain immunity. Making his father the head coach would not be conducive to cohesion and progress.
