Tom Thibodeau was asked if Wednesday was the first time he was back in Target Center since the Timberwolves fired him in January 2019. Thibodeau approached a smile by his standards as he stated: ""There's a lot of arenas that I parted ways with."
Wednesday's game marked the first official time Thibodeau was back on the sideline as he took a year off before becoming Knicks coach this season. During that year, Thibodeau said he was still living in Minneapolis.
"I'm comfortable here," Thibodeau said. "I enjoyed my time here and it's great to be back."
Thibodeau did some reflecting on his tenure with the Wolves, and why things are clicking so much easier for him in New York in his first year (the Knicks were fifth in the East entering Wednesday) than with the Wolves when they were 31-51.