The New York Knicks have hired Darren Erman as an assistant on Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff, the former head coach of the Celtics’ G League affiliate the Maine Red Claws.
Erman and Thibodeau became familiar with each other during late-night practice sessions in 2005. Erman would help train former Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine and the list soon expanded to Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen. Thibodeau was present for some of these practices, so the Celtics decided to add Erman to the coaching staff as an assistant. Soon after, Rondo coined Erman the ‘Baby Thibodeau’.
“He’s the best guy in the league for me as far as scouting report,” Rondo said of Erman. “I call him Baby Thibodeau. Thibs is the best at it, to me, defensively. He’s the best defensive coach I’ve ever played for. [Erman is] pretty much a miniature Thibodeau.”
Erman was part of the coaching staff during Boston’s 2008 championship run. According to Rondo, Erman is a gym rat just like Thibs.
“[Erman] does the same thing, he works just as hard,” Rondo said. “You can’t really beat him to the gym. When Thibs was here, you couldn’t. I’d try to get the gym at 7 in the morning, the only guy there was Thibs in his office. And [Erman is] pretty much the same way. It’s paid off for Thibs and it’s only a matter of time before [Erman]. becomes a head coach.”
In 2014, Erman was fired by the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach for secretly recording team conversations between coaches and players without their knowledge.
Despite the controversy, Erman made his way back to the Celtics as a director of scouting and then over to the New Orleans Pelicans as associate head coach. He then left the Pelicans gig last season to become the head coach of the G league Red Claws where they had a 28-14 record. He helped Tacko Fall make the G League All-Defensive team that year, and Tremont Water won Rookie of the Year.
Erman can be a great addition to Thibs’ coaching staff, so long as he keeps all recording devices turned off. He and Thibs appear to be in alignment since Erman worked directly on the 2008 Celtics coaching staff that won a championship where Thibs was defensive coordinator.
Rasheed Wallace broke down the keys to success with Tom Thibodeau’s defensive schemes:
