Mikal Bridges expressed that he has no issue with his former coach, Tom Thibodeau, sharing insights from his time with the Knicks, at least in a public forum.
Thibodeau, who was released by the Knicks after last season, was seen at the Celtics’ practice on Tuesday. He’s made the rounds at various team practices since being cut.
Celtics player Jaylen Brown mentioned that Thibodeau shared some helpful observations regarding the Knicks, recalling that they faced off against them in the conference semifinals last season.
The Knicks are set to face the Celtics at home this Friday.
“I’m completely okay with it,” Bridges said after Tuesday’s practice.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula clarified that Thibodeau’s presence at practice wasn’t solely about scouting the Knicks. “He’s been a long-time friend of mine. His coaching history here and the championships he’s helped secure mean a lot. It’s not just about learning the game. It’s about honoring a coach who has significantly contributed to this organization. There’s always something to learn from him. But, it wasn’t exclusively focused on that,” Mazzula added.
In other team news, Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) had surgeries over the offseason and will be out as the Cavaliers kick off the season against the Knicks on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. DeAndre Hunter (knee) is currently listed as questionable.
Josh Hart (lumbar spasm) will also miss the season opener, impacting the Knicks’ bench depth they worked to enhance this offseason.
Despite these setbacks, coach Mike Brown expressed his confidence in the team. “I love our squad,” he noted on Tuesday. “I have faith in all the players on the roster, from one to seventeen. I truly believe in our two-way players. They need to be ready. I emphasized to them today that being in uniform means being ready to contribute at any moment. I trust our young players, including those at the end of the bench.”
