Rivers spoke up after Thibodeau was dismissed: The Knicks did things wrong

This article is compiled from PFSN, author Mohammad Faisal

After firing Tom Thibodeau, the New York Knicks were criticized, and former player Austin Rivers added fuel to the fire. Rivers unveiled the veil of his brief and turbulent experience in New York as the Knicks searched for their next head coach.

He made the details of the story public, including a strange management meeting, early betrayal and embarrassing way of leaving the team, which triggered greater doubts about the team's operations and made people wonder why in the eyes of some players, Thibodeau's dismissal might have happened long ago.

When asked about his experience playing under Tom Thibodeau, Austin Rivers spoke out. On his own Off Guard with Austin Rivers podcast, the NBA veteran revealed some shocking details that painted the dark scenes of the Knicks locker room.

"I'm not actually a fan of Thibodeau. I've played for him, and personally it wasn't the best experience. He wasn't good to me at all," Rivers said.

This is just the beginning. He continued to tell that on the first day of training camp, Thibodeau's words made him feel that he was just a temporary substitute, not a signing player that the team values.

"The first day of training camp, it's the real thing... It's the first time I've actually talked to him since the signing. Thibodeau walked up to me and said, 'Hey man, I'm glad you came. I wanted Derek Ross, but you would do well. You would do well.' And he went."

Rivers said he felt immediately he was doomed.

"I still remember thinking to myself, 'Well, I can't stay here for long.' In less than a month or two, guess who joined the team? Derek Ross. I knew I was leaving at that time."

Rivers joined the Knicks in November 2020 by signing first and then changing. The move is intended to provide a new opportunity for the once 10th pick rookie who has some value as a backup guard despite his multiple teams in the league.

What happened next, however, felt more like a scene from a gangster movie than a deal in the NBA.

"The process of things going on and how they handled it is just crazy, brother," Rivers revealed. “They took me to a dark room, and there were Leon (Ross), Wes Wade and Thibodeau,” Rivers recalled. "The three of them sat in the dark, with only a faint light, like interrogation. 'Hey man, we're going to change you, Derek just arrived. You don't have to go with the team anymore until you find the right place for you.'"

This conversation surprised him. Rivers said he had to put down his airs and contact him actively, just to stay in the team in some capacity.

"I (after being cut) had to call (Tibodeau) humbly and beg him: 'Can I travel with you so that I can continue to train, and I pay the fees myself. I will support my teammates in front, that's fine.'"

But it seems that Rivers' request is ignored. A few months later, in March 2021, he was sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a tripartite deal, and was cut again three days later.

"I don't even know where they traded me, traded me to a team that was going to sack me. They weren't fair to me at all. They traded me to a team that didn't use me at all," he said. "So they called me into the room and the whole thing... (all fake)."

However, he saved the sharpest criticism to the end:

"They do things wrong sometimes," Rivers said, "that's what I mean. I've been holding it in for a long time. I have more to say, but (I'll first) hold it back. So when you fire Thibodeau, I don't have any sympathy."

Although Rivers's experience in New York was short, his experience was in line with the larger scope of contradictions emerging from the Knicks' locker room.

On June 3, the news of Tom Thibodeau's fire was officially announced, which surprised many people from the outside world. He led the New York Knicks to 50 wins in two straight seasons and led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time 25 years later.

But some players inside are ready to leave. According to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the Knicks management communicated with several key players during the player's departure interview, and the feedback received was not good.

According to Goodwell, several players felt that Thibodeau had allowed the starting player to play for too long and felt that he lacked the ability to adapt. Another player said that if Thibodeau returns next season, he would not want to play for him anymore.

Thibodeau is known for his strong personality, trust in veterans and strict coaching style, but the traits that once defined him seem to have gradually lost their performance and eventually became one of the reasons for his departure.

Rivers' narrative paints a picture of how difficult it is in terms of transparency and execution, at least during his time at the time of his time. His experience with the Knicks’ 2020-2021 season still has a certain weight when the team is now forced to re-examine its positioning.