Tom Thibodeau has a winning percentage of .579 across 13 seasons as a head coach. That is tied for 31st, all time, among all NBA coaches, going back to 1946, who have coached in at least 100 games; the tie is with Miami’s Erik Spoelstra.
Spoelstra’s Heat have gone 83-81 the past two years. Thibodeau’s Knicks have gone 101-64. And yet there are times, listening to members of both the NBA’s cognoscenti and its most critical fans, when you might be swayed that it was Spoelstra who whispered into Jimmy Naismith’s ear, told the good doctor that 10 feet would be a good height for the peach basket.
And times when you could swear that Thibodeau has somehow gotten absurdly lucky in 578 of the 998 games he’s coached for the Bulls, Timberwolves and Knicks, and gotten exactly what he deserved in the other 420.
(FULL DISCLOSURE: I think Spoelstra is an excellent coach, too.)
