After a report by the New York Post suggested that Mikal Bridges had recommended to coach Tom Thibodeau that the Knicks’ starters should see a decrease in their playing time, Thibodeau denied this assertion.
“Well, we never had a conversation about it,” Thibodeau remarked during a media briefing. “The facts are the facts.”
He went on to discuss the common trend of wing players playing longer minutes, asserting that anyone who doubts his approach simply “doesn’t understand how the team operates.” Thibodeau also noted that star players like Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum typically average around 36-37 minutes per game.
Additionally, Thibodeau pointed out that Bridges’ playing time has “decreased.”
For those who might have missed it, here are Bridges’ comments.
“Sometimes it’s not easy on the body,” Bridges stated, as reported by the New York Post. “But as a coach, you want that, and I talked to him a little about our strong enough team where our bench players are capable of stepping in, and we don’t necessarily need to play 48 [minutes], 47.”
“We have numerous talented players on this roster who can take on minutes, which enhances the defense, bolsters the offense, and helps prevent fatigue from resulting in unnecessary points. Keeping fresh players on the court truly makes a difference.”
Bridges also remarked that although Thibodeau is largely receptive, “sometimes I think he just becomes set in his ways.”
“I don’t think he’s resistant to change. At times, I feel he just gets entrenched in his strategies and prefers to keep the same players on the court,” Bridges detailed. “Sometimes, it’s necessary to suggest to him, like with Landry [Shamet], that if they’re performing well, they should remain in the game.”
