Donte DiVincenzo throws support behind disrespected head coach

The narrative surrounding Thibodeau is that he pushes his players too hard. Many believe that playing for the old-school head coach is a difficult task due to his incredible attention to detail and the refined roles he expects from his players. However, Donte DiVincenzo, who joined the Knicks this past summer, believes that everybody has his head coach all wrong. 

“Because nobody’s in our locker room and everybody that talks is on the outside of our locker room. They don’t know what goes on,” DiVincenzo told The Athletic's Fred Katz. “Thibs is a great leader. He’s a great head coach and he’s done an amazing job this year not only dealing with injuries in and out of the lineup but also getting the best out of every single player on our team.

DiVincenzo ended the regular season with averages of 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 44.3% from the field and 40.1% from three-point range. The sixth-year wing has thrived under Thibodeau's guidance. The Knicks have taken a significant leap this season due to the internal development of multiple players.

With so much success during his tenure and a bright future ahead, it's difficult to see why Thibodeau continues to be disrespected by players around the league. Yes, he coaches his players hard, and his commitment to a stringent defense is unwavering. However, the results speak for themselves. Professional basketball is about winning. The Knicks are doing a lot of that under Thibodeau. Surely, that makes him an enticing coach to play for.