Derrick Rose may have retired from the NBA last year, but his connection to former coach Tom Thibodeau is still as strong as ever.
Rose shared his thoughts on the New York Knicks’ decision to part ways with Thibodeau in early June, despite the team reaching its first Eastern Conference finals in twenty-five years, speaking at a NASCAR event in Chicago on Sunday.
“I talked to Thibs after and he’s good,” Rose said. “You can’t be mad when you’re walking away with $30 million. You can’t be too sorry for him. But he’s in good spirits and yeah, that’s my guy. We locked in till the end. But he’s good. Jalen [Brunson]’s still in New York, he’s gonna be ballin’, so everybody wins, I feel like.”
Former NBA MVP and #NASCARChicago grand marshal Derrick Rose was asked today about his reaction to the Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau. The two had a long relationship and Rose played on his Knicks teams at the end of his career.
Says Thibs is in good spirits and “you can’t be mad… pic.twitter.com/vhnTuuMytb
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) July 6, 2025
The Knicks moved on from Thibodeau after four seasons and announced last week that they’re finalizing a deal with Mike Brown, formerly of the Sacramento Kings.
Rose and Thibodeau share a unique bond, forged over stops in Chicago, Minnesota, and New York. Rose thrived under Thibodeau early in his career, winning MVP with the Bulls in 2011. He later reunited with him on the Timberwolves and again with the Knicks from 2021-23 before closing out his playing career in Memphis.
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