New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has celebrated his own 500-win milestone by heaping praise on another legendary coach – his friend and idol Bill Belichick.
The Patriots legend left New England this week after 24 years as head coach, and with six Super Bowl trophies in his cabinet.
Saturday night marked a big moment for Thibodeau, as his Knicks beat the Memphis Grizzlies to help him secure a 500th win as a coach in the NBA.
But rather than revel in his own success, the 65-year-old Connecticut native instead used his press conference to hail Belichick’s impact on his life.
‘Those type of things are just the mark of you’ve been around a long time and you’ve had really good players,’ the Knicks coach said of his milestone. ‘So I certainly appreciate it, but I don’t get wrapped up in stuff like that.’
New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau smiles during his 500th win as an NBA head coach
Bill Belichick stepped down as the New England Patriots head coach earlier this week
Then, opening up on Belichick, Thibodeau added: ‘Growing up in New England, I appreciate what he brought, and what he did there was just incredible.
‘That’s the mark of greatness to do it the way he did it for as long as he did. I grew up thinking the Patriots never win and then my nephews grew up thinking the Patriots win every year.
‘So it’s completely different perspective. But I think a lot of coaches learn from him — coaching is leadership. He’s incredible. He’s at the top of my list.’
Incredibly, Thibodeau is already the fifth-winningest coach in New York Knicks history, despite only taking the job in 2020.
Thibodeau celebrated his own milestone by heaping praise on the legendary Belichick (right)
Belichick has a bucket of ice water thrown over his head after winning the Super Bowl in 2005
He has 148 wins since taking the reins, which puts him behind Red Holzman (613 wins), Joe Lapchick (326), Jeff Van Gundy (248) and Pat Riley (223).
He began his NBA coaching career in 1989 as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, before eventually getting his big break as a head coach in 2010 with the Chicago Bulls.
In 2016, he returned to the Timberwolves as HC 25 years after leaving, and then took the Knicks job in 2020.
He is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, winning it in 2011 with the Bulls and 2021 with the Knicks.
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