Tom Thibodeau's Knicks are in the playoffs for the second time in three years, but the longtime head coach doesn't seem like a desirable leader in the eyes of NBA players.
According to an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic, Thibodeau was the overwhelming selection for which coach the players would least like to play for. In the poll published on Tuesday, Thibodeau received 43.6 percent of the votes, with the next highest coach being Stephen Silas, the former Rockets head coach who was let go last week, at just 14.5 percent.
Said one anonymous player quoted by The Athletic: "I love Thibs, but I heard his practices are crazy."
That sentiment isn't much of a surprise, as Thibodeau is known for his intense practices and tendency to play his top contributors heavy minutes on a nightly basis. That was on display in Tuesday's game two loss, when both Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson were still in the game in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, despite the game being well in hand for the Cavaliers.
Still, the Knicks players only offer public praise of Thibodeau, so perhaps those polled are players from the outside, though that wouldn't bode well for potential free agents.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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