Tom Thibodeau and playing his starters big minutes: it’s hard to name a more iconic aspect of an NBA coach’s current reputation. This pattern has held true throughout Thibodeau’s four-season tenure as the Knicks’ coach. We’ve seen him persistently play Julius Randle regardless of his performance, while Obi Toppin, clearly ready to make a positive impact, sat on the bench for the vast majority of games. Similarly, Alec Burks, miscast as a point guard, took the court while the promising playmaker Immanuel Quickley was limited to just 23 minutes per game that season.
Some fans and analysts thought that, after the injuries the Knicks suffered last season, Thibodeau might finally be open to change.