A little over a year ago — when Tom Thibodeau was still coaching the Knicks — Channing Frye declared on NBA TV that the starters’ heavy minutes were leading to injuries and the reserves needed more opportunities. It became, unknown to Frye, a big moment.
His commentary served as the impetus for asking Mikal Bridges about Thibodeau’s bench usage, which led to Bridges famously going off before a March game about his coach’s minutes distribution.
Three months later, Mike Brown replaced the fired Thibodeau and was directed to develop a deep rotation and diverse attack.
It took a while but Brown did that. Now the Knicks are in the Finals and Frye is giving Brown flowers.