There has been a lot of reporting about New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau and his insistence on pushing his players hard throughout the season.
It’s no secret that Thibodeau gives his stars a lot of minutes, and some fans feel that it ultimately leads to more injuries and fatigue.
On Thursday night, Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson said he was actually thankful for how much Thibodeau demands of him.
Following his team’s 118-116 win over the Detroit Pistons, Brunson talked about how he still had energy at the end of the hard-fought game.
“Just happy Thibs played me all those minutes in the regular season. Got me in shape for the playoffs,” Brunson said to the laughter of the press, via New York Basketball.
Fred Katz: “Under a minute to go, you get 2 buckets…Looked like…everyone in the game kinda looked gassed—and you sped up…”
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Jalen Brunson: “Just happy Thibs played me all those minutes in the regular season. Got me in shape for the playoffs” pic.twitter.com/LO3MdiERGs— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 25, 2025
When Brunson used to play for the Dallas Mavericks, he averaged 24.7 minutes per game.
Now in New York, he’s suiting up for about 35.3 minutes per match.
He’s not the only one who carries a heavy load, because Thibodeau keeps his players on the floor for a very long time.
This is good in many ways because he has a talented group of starters.
But some people say that it pushes their bodies too hard and leads to them falling apart in the playoffs.
New York’s last postseason ended with numerous injuries, including one to Brunson.
Others say that Thibodeau’s approach doesn’t allow the bench to get enough time on the court, leaving them unprepared for the intensity of the playoffs.
Right now, it seems to be working because the Knicks are healthy and they hold a 2-1 lead over the Pistons.
However, will Brunson still be jokingly praising Thibodeau’s choices if a plague of injuries hits the team in the weeks ahead?
NEXT: Jalen Brunson Praises Karl-Anthony Towns After Big Game 3
