When Tom Thibodeau was introduced as the latest coach of the Knicks six months ago, team president Leon Rose pointed to their long relationship and added, "I’ve watched him work over the last 20 years and the fact that he’s won everywhere he’s been was an overriding factor."
And the place where he won the most was in Chicago, where he guided the Bulls for five seasons, making the playoffs every year and never winning less than 45 games while compiling a 255-139 record. But he still was pushed aside in a power struggle with a front office that believed they had a better way.