The lessons that shaped Tom Thibodeau's coaching renaissance with the New York Knicks play Stephen A. Smith is excited about what he's seeing from the Knicks. (2:28) One of the many criticisms about New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was that he would be unable to adapt his eat-breathe-sleep basketball ways to a new wave of young players. But after being fired by the Minnesota Timberwolves in January 2019, Thibodeau is at the start of a third basketball act that many thought wasn't possible. New York wasn't expected to win much in Thibodeau's first season, but as was the case in his first year with the Chicago Bulls in 2010-11, the team has exceeded expectations.