(From left) Knicks president Leon Rose, Kemba Walker, coach Tom Thibodeau, Evan Fournier and GM Scott Perry are set to begin a new season. Credit: Getty Images/Dustin Satloff
The Knicks leadership sat relaxed Friday afternoon, Leon Rose making jokes about his extended silence over more than a year, Tom Thibodeau - his voice bearing none of the gravely tones that come with a long season of screaming at officials and his own team - smiling widely.
There were plenty of reasons for them to enjoy the moment. Since Rose had last spoken with the media - Thibodeau’s introductory zoom press conference in July of 2020 - the Knicks had exceeded any reasonable expectations by grabbing the No.