Thibodeua returns to United Center with Team USA
The coming NBA season will feature an unusual number of reunions for the Bulls.
Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, with a combined 17 seasons playing in Chicago, will return to the United Center with the New York Knicks, probably twice.
Pau Gasol will return with San Antonio. New Bull Dwyane Wade will play against Miami for the first time in 13 professional seasons.
Former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who will lead the Minnesota Timberwolves into Chicago, provided a sneak preview of what's in store when he took the court at the United Center with the rest of Team USA on Thursday. Thibodeau is an assistant for the national team, working with head coach and Chicago native Mike Krzyzewski from Duke. Team USA will face Venezuela in an exhibition game at the UC on Friday.
"It feels great. It brings back a lot of great memories," Thibodeau said. "When you look back, there was a lot more positive than negative. I was very fortunate to be a part of that group. I'll always appreciate that. I appreciate that (Bulls chairman) Jerry (Reinsdorf) gave me the opportunity to be here."
Thibodeau had a successful five-year run as head coach of the Bulls, going 255-139 while making the playoffs five times. He was fired after the 2014-15 season and took a year off from coaching. While continuing to live in Chicago, Thibodeau spent time visiting and observing other coaches, 13 in total, during his time away.
"It was a great year for me. It was a chance to reflect, recharge, visit with a lot of people," he said. "So it was fun. That's basically how I wanted to treat the year, like a sabbatical."
Most of Thibodeau's success with the Bulls came with Rose and Noah on the court. Their best season together was Thibodeau's first in 2010-11, when the Bulls went 62-20 and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals while Rose was named league MVP.
Thibodeau was asked how he felt when both players left the Bulls this summer. Rose was traded to the Knicks for Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and the since-departed Jose Calderon, while Noah signed with New York as a free agent.
"It's sort of the nature of the league. It doesn't last forever," Thibodeau said. "That group was a special group of guys. From where it started, and unfortunately the injuries derailed it some, but that being said, it was a very prideful group. They never gave in, they never succumbed to the circumstances. No matter who was out, they always found a way to fight and they found different ways to win. Different guys stepped up."
The Bulls' run as a title contender essentially ended in the first game of the 2012 playoffs when Rose suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. But while Rose missed the entire 2012-13 season, the Bulls managed to reach the second round of the playoffs.
Thibodeau talked about getting things started in Minnesota, where he'll take over a nice group of young stars, including the last two rookie of the year winners, Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
He also had nice things to say about the Bulls' reboot. The team's holdover star, Jimmy Butler, is working with Thibodeau again as part of the Olympic team. Besides Wade, the Bulls added point guard Rajon Rondo, who played in Boston when Thibodeau was a Celtics assistant.
"I think this is good for Jimmy," Thibodeau said. "Jimmy's a very bright guy. … Jimmy can fit into any situation. He's got the ability to make other people better. He knows how to fit in. He knows how to play to his strengths. He understands the game. I think Jimmy won't have any problems with that.
"You're talking about three guys that are going to add a lot as far as experience, intelligence and having been in big-game situations. Great players always figure out how to play with each other. They're going to be very difficult to match up with."
Some people have wondered how well Rondo will fit in with the Bulls, but Thibodeau doesn't have any doubts.
"We won a championship (in Boston), so I had a very positive experience with him," he said. "He's a pass-first guy. He's tough, tough-minded. If you cut and get open, you'll get the ball from him. He knows how to read defenses. Again, when you look at a Rondo, a Wade and Butler, that's very difficult to match up with."
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