Tom Thibodeau is keeping his eyes peeled for his next coaching opportunity.
The former Knicks coach, who took them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years last season, told SiriusXM’s “The Starting Lineup” that he wants to be in the NBA ranks again.
“I love the game. Obviously, I’m preparing for the next opportunity, so hopefully I’ll be ready for it,” Thibodeau said.
It shouldn’t come as much of a revelation that Thibs wants back in the game after being fired by the Knicks and replaced by Mike Brown.
Thibodeau served as head coach of the Knicks for five seasons, leading the team to a 226-174 record during that span.
The Knicks reached the playoffs five times during his tenure, which included the Eastern Conference Finals trip last season.
Thibodeau was named Coach of the Year in 2021 and the Knicks had 40-plus win seasons in four of his five seasons in the Big Apple.
Thibs previously coached the Bulls from 2010-15 and the Timberwolves from 2016-19, accumulating a 578-420 record all-time as a head coach.
The former head coach was in the Windy City for the jersey retirement ceremony of Derrick Rose.
Rose, who played for Thibodeau in Chicago, praised his former coach and pushed back on the narrative that the he was to blame for his ACL tear.
“They look at Thibs as the injury part, but I’m here to say f–k that,” Rose told the crowd during his jersey retirement ceremony. “There’s a reason why, everything is meant to be, bro. Thibs was the first coach who made me feel special when we used to watch film. I used to do s–t in games just to make sure he saw me on tape.”