Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau had one word to describe his reaction to Jeff Van Gundy’s new job.
“Disgusting,” the coach said before the Knicks’ 121-112 preseason loss to the Timberwolves on Saturday night at the Garden.
It was a comment in jest and funny because Van Gundy, the former Knicks coach, is now working as a “senior consultant” with the rival Celtics.
The move had been in the works for a while and was reported Saturday by Masslive.com.
Thibodeau hinted that the Celtics were a better fit for Van Gundy when asked if he had offered his buddy a similar opportunity with the Knicks.
“Obviously, he’s had a lot of opportunities to do a lot of things. We’re very close friends, obviously,” Thibodeau said. “So, I’m happy for him because there are certain things that he’s looking for and I think he was able to find them there. He’s not only a great coach. He’s a great person. So, whatever is next for him, I know he’ll be great at it. But I just want him to be happy and I think he will be.”
Van Gundy was laid off by ESPN and ABC in July after 16 years as a color analyst with the company.
His former telecast partner, Mark Jackson, could fill in as an analyst for Knicks games on MSG Network, The Post’s Andrew Marchand reported.
Van Gundy had been targeting a return to coaching — he interviewed for the vacant Rockets position in 2020 — and guided Team USA at the FIBA 2017 AmeriCup.
Thibodeau was an assistant on Van Gundy’s staff with the Knicks (1996-03) and Rockets (2003-07).
Randle and Thibodeau were right all along.
The NBA acknowledging recently that load management doesn’t prevent injuries, but Thibodeau, who has always shunned the practice, passed on an opportunity to gloat with an, “I told you so.”
But he did repeat the theory that rest can actually lead to injuries.
“When you look at it over time and you see, OK, it’s a long season and you have to condition yourself for that season,” Thibodeau said. “If you’re preparing to play big minutes then you should prepare to play big minutes all year long.
“There’s also the school of thought that a lot of these injuries are being caused by maybe not being conditioned well enough.”
Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive VP of basketball operations, told The Athletic recently that new data no longer supports load management.
It felt like a self-serving revelation since the NBA is negotiating a new TV deal and has to sell their stars playing in actual games.
Either way, the Knicks aren’t a concern for the NBA.
This is more for Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson and the aging Warriors.
Randle, the Knicks’ only All-Star, never rests when healthy and is among the league leaders in minutes played since coming to New York.
“I don’t know much about [load management]. I’ve never done it,” Randle said. “I’m always just going about how my body feels, preparing my body the best I can every night and if I’m healthy to play, I’m going to play. I don’t really know much about the data. I’ve never participated in it.
“I don’t know [why players rest when healthy]. You’ll have to ask them. But I mean, every night I get the chance to go out there on that court it’s a blessing and an honor. Going into year 10, I don’t take these moments for granted. Anytime I can go out there and play I will and if I don’t I’ll hear about it from my son.”
Thibodeau is old-school on the subject.
“One time I talked to Michael Jordan about it at length, the things that he did to prepare for a season. He had the belief — and the whole organization did — about the way you should work,” Thibodeau said. “Same thing in Boston. In ’08 when we won the championship [with Thibodeau as an assistant coach], those guys were phenomenal. They didn’t miss practice. Great practice team. The 90s, the Knicks were a great practice team. And it served them well. If you’re playing pro sports there’s always the possibility of getting injured. I think you look at everything. But you have to prepare yourself to play a long season.”
The battle for the final roster spots has impressed Randle, who also probably appreciates the youngsters taking the brunt of Thibodeau’s anger.
“They work their asses off,” Randle said. “They get here early, stay late. Weight room. Whatever Thibs is asking them to do, it’s 100 percent effort. Thibs might be mad at us and he’s cursing them out. That’s just how it goes.”
The Knicks have as many as three open roster spots and six players currently on non-guaranteed contracts — Ryan Arcidiacono, DaQuan Jeffries, Isaiah Roby, Jacob Toppin, Duane Washington Jr. and Charlie Brown Jr.
Three players on two-way contracts — Nathan Knight, Dylan Windler and Jaylen Martin — could also be converted to standard deals if they impress during camp. Thibodeau also mentioned the possibility of signing a player who is cut from another team.
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