The NBA announced today that New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has won the Red Auerbach Trophy for 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year.
It was a close race, with Thibodeau edging out Suns head coach Monty Williams with 43 first-place votes and 351 total votes. Williams received 45 first-place votes, but had only 340 total votes, putting him in second place behind Thibodeau.
Some may argue for Williams or Utah Jazz head coach Quincy Snyder, but the announcement is an affirmation to die-hard Knicks fans who witnessed Thibodeau supplant a winning culture and defensive identity in less than a season.
You would be hard-pressed to find another example of a coach so quickly and effectively rebuilding and reshaping an organization so deeply entrenched in dysfunction.
The New York Knicks finished with a 20-win improvement over last season and their first playoff berth since 2013 through their league-leading defense (opponent FG%), the NBA Most Improved Player in Julius Randle as well as special seasons from RJ Barrett and Derrick Rose.
Rose, Wesley Excel in First Year
Leon Rose, Scott Perry, William Wesley and the rest of the Knicks front office also deserve ample credit for the foundation they created.
Hiring Thibodeau, drafting Immanuel Quickley, signing veteran free agents like Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks and challenging Julius Randle to come back an improved player all fueled the fire that led to an incredible story of revival for the Knicks and Julius Randle.
The work has only just begun for this new regime in New York, though, because the regular season magic dissipated in the playoffs.
If Julius Randle’s playoff performance indicated he isn’t a number one offensive option, the front office will have to buckle down fast to find one. Asking Randle for a repeat of last season without giving him help offensively would be a disservice.
The team also has significant question marks at the center and point guard position with Mitchell Robinson’s health continually in question and Derrick Rose arguably better suited as a bench spark.
The improvement the Knicks saw after the Rose acquisition show the tremendous impact a steady and stable point guard can make on a roster.
The coming months will put Leon Rose and William Wesley directly in the national spotlight. How will they expand on this tremendous first season? Can they retool and adjust the roster for a better playoff performance next season? Stay tuned to knicksfantv.com for the latest Knicks news and rumors throughout the offseason.
