Tom Thibodeau Offers Insights to Celtics Ahead of New Season

BOSTON — Tom Thibodeau, former head coach of the New York Knicks, visited the Boston Celtics’ practice on Monday to share his coaching insights as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

Thibodeau, who helped the Knicks defeat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year, was present at the Auerbach Center while the Celtics geared up for their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

“He’s obviously been one of the best coaches around for a long time,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “Just having him around makes me better, makes our organization better, so there’s a lot of respect for him.”

During his time with the Celtics, Thibodeau was an assistant coach from 2007 to 2010, contributing to the team’s championship victory in 2008. The Celtics had their share of difficulties last season, losing to the Knicks, and players like Jaylen Brown appreciate Thibodeau’s perspective.

“It stung losing to the Knicks,” Brown said, reflecting on the heartbreak from their playoff exit. “To have Thibs here and explain what he saw in that series helps us grow and learn from that. I value that.”

In their playoff matchup, the Knicks eliminated the Celtics in six games, despite Boston holding leads in several games. Brown shared that Thibodeau broke down film during practice, sharpening their skills ahead of the new season.

“I took a lot from it, being able to talk to him and ask questions about what he was seeing,” Brown said. “It allows you to grow. If you’re humble enough to listen, it’ll allow you to grow.”

Following his firing from the Knicks after a disappointing playoff run, Thibodeau has been utilizing his time by observing practices across the league. This visit to the Celtics is notable as the team continues to evolve since their playoff disappointment.

As the Celtics look ahead, they will face Thibodeau’s former team, the Knicks, this Friday night at Madison Square Garden. With the insights gained from Thibodeau, who has a wealth of experience in the league, the Celtics hope to improve and find success this season.