Tom Thibodeau got the NBA world watching over the weekend after it was surfaced that made a visit to the Boston Celtics which according to Jaylen Brown led to him sharing specific details about how they lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 playoffs.
Jaylen Brown said Thibs broke down film of last year’s Knicks series with the team today, pointing out some things that NY was able to exploit. Said his visit was very helpful. https://t.co/9jDpf7aOUG
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) October 20, 2025
“That was awesome having Thibs. Obviously, they eliminated us last year,” Brown told reporters.
“So him being able to kind of give us some of the thoughts that he saw in that series and some of the stuff that they broke down in our personnel, or even our team, helps us grow and learn from that.”
His own coach Joe Mazzulla clarified that it was not the case. He said it was only a visit and Knicks being at the center of everything is wrong.
Joe Mazzulla clarified some details on Tom Thibodeau’s visit yesterday, saying he wasn’t here specifically to share things New York did against Boston in the playoffs:
“I think it’s more he’s been a friend for me for a long time. Obviously, he coached here, he won a championship… pic.twitter.com/gbl6fqMMTd
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) October 21, 2025
Thibodeau won the Coach of the Year Award twice in his career but his time with the Knicks ended abruptly after their team failed in the Eastern Conference Finals last May.
Mazzulla only focuses on Boston Celtics
Thibodeau’s visit came at a time when rumors that the Knicks tried to target Mazzulla to be their new head coach started going around. New York then decided to go with two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown.
Mazzulla said he never got into contact with the Knicks and insisted that his only goal is to be with the Celtics for as long as it takes.
“That never reached me. There is only one team that I want to coach: it’s the Boston Celtics,” he said.
“I’m going to be here for however long ownership and the city will have me. There is no other team that I’m coaching, it’s here or I’m going to coach my kid’s soccer team or something like that.”
Mazzulla is entering a different this season time following roster changes over the summer. He had a great line up in the past ones but this time, the Cs are considered the underdogs due to the departure of their core.
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