Tom Thibodeau: ‘I’m just a laid back dude’

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is known as being an intense, all-business basketball coach. That was even evident with the Knicks’ 108-100 preseason victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, improving New York’s preseason record to 3-0.

PRESEASON THIBS

(via @TheKnicksWall)pic.twitter.com/xAMGNdXPR0

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) October 14, 2021

Tom Thibodeau gets asked why wining preseason games is meaningful to him: "Everything matters to me."

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) October 14, 2021

Derrick Rose on if he’s surprised Tom Thibodeau still gets this intense during preseason games: "Are y’all surprised?! Nothing’s gonna change."

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) October 14, 2021

Thibodeau has played the starters almost the entire third quarter. The rookies better get comfortable with splinters. #knicks

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) October 14, 2021

But in the postgame press conference, Thibodeau wanted the media to know that he’s just a laid back dude.

In fact, Thibodeau literally said, “I’m just a laid back dude.”

"Nah, I'm just a laid back dude" – Tom Thibodeau 🤣 pic.twitter.com/6vGMLee1JT

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) October 14, 2021

That’s good stuff. Every here and there, the Thibs sense of humor and laughter comes out.

And his (usual) no-nonsense mentality has produced some impressive results over the years, like with the Knicks’ shocking 41-31 record in the 2020-21 NBA season (he won the NBA Coach of the Year award). Thibs will surely have the Knicks playing great defense and grinding on a gamely basis this season too.

[Photo Credit: SNY]