Tom Thibodeau has a reputation for not playing rookies much, if at all, and it’s a reputation that has been fairly earned — for the most part.
From Jimmy Butler (8.5 minutes per game over 42 contests as a rookie) to Marquis Teague or even Marcus Georges-Hunt, who proved to be a worthy rotation player in short minutes just last season, Thibodeau has never relied on rookies when his hand isn’t forced. Or, if it isn’t a rookie that he is completely sold on, that is.
The likes of Nikola Mirotic (20.