For five seasons, the Knicks traveled the Thibs Way, meaning they were obliged to paddle in the same direction — toward winning every game under the principles of coach Tom Thibodeau — regardless of personal problems or gripes or beliefs it should be done differently.
The Tenets of Thibs, often criticized as unsettling to Gen Z athletes and detrimental to long-term health, facilitated the greatest Knicks run of this young millennium.
Thibodeau carried autonomy over game plans and rotations. He was a persuasive voice in personnel decisions, unbending in many ways, with a logic that’s easy to follow: Nobody in the Knicks organization — and certainly not at the top of the front office — absorbed more film than him, understood basketball better than him, won more games than him.