Tom Thibodeau is special.
The Knicks head coach is drawn to several qualities he looks for in his players: tough, stubborn, smart and defensively aggressive.
Raptors wing Bruce Brown seems to fit the bill.
“I'm a dog,” Brown told the Post Saturday night before the Raptors' 126-100 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “I play very hard on both ends of the floor. I can do just about anything. [Thibodeau] You need me to do it. ”
Brown, who scored eight points in Saturday's loss, was part of Pascal Siakam's blockbuster just weeks after the Raptors acquired RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley from the Knicks in the deal for OG Anunoby. He was recently traded from the Pacers to the Raptors.
Brown signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers this offseason after winning the NBA championship with the Nuggets last year.
However, Brown could be on the move again soon as the Raptors look to rebuild.
According to ESPN, the Knicks are one of the top teams interested in the 27-year-old, as they have a hole on their bench without Quickley.
Brown said he spoke with the Knicks before signing with the Pacers.
Although the Knicks ultimately fell short of meeting Indiana's offer, Brown learned that Thibodeau had long been a fan of his.
“I play very hard,” Brown said. “I think this [I’m] He's the type of player I like. ”
And Brown has long admired Thibodeau.
“Every time I play against Thisbus, I go up to him and shake his hand, just because of what he's done,” Brown said. “I have nothing but respect for Tibbs.”
Brown said he thought Thibodeau, who was the Timberwolves' coach and president at the time, would draft him in 2018.
The Timberwolves drafted Josh Okogie instead, and Brown slipped into the second round before being selected by the Pistons.
The Knicks didn't have much of a chance to play against the Pacers in negotiations this offseason, and were only able to offer a mid-level exception of about $12.4 million per year.
But general manager Leon Rose can now provide Thibodeau with another workhorse the manager desperately needs.
The Knicks and Raptors are currently embroiled in an ongoing lawsuit, but that did not prevent Anunoby from being traded.
Brown is averaging 12.1 points per game on 48 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range this year.
“Try not to pay attention to it and just hoop and try to control what you can control,” Brown said. “I can't control whether I'll be moved again or not. I can't get it out of my head.”
Brown played two seasons with the Nets, so he certainly knows the environment in New York if he is traded to the Knicks.
And it doesn't faze him at all.
“I love New York,” Brown said. “I hated New York before I lived here, but as soon as I moved here I fell in love with it. Whenever I wanted to do something, I could just go and do it. Great restaurants, great city, I'll be back. I love it.”
