Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was rewarded for returning the franchise to the playoffs by being named NBA Coach of the Year on Monday.
Thibodeau guided the Knicks to a 41-31 record and the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, snapping a seven-year playoff drought.
“Anytime you get an award like this I’m obviously honored but it’s more a reflection of the group and organization,” Thibodeau said on TNT, via Marc Berman of the New York Post. “It starts at the top and we got great leadership in our front office.’’
Thibodeau’s win was called an “upset” by the Post, as he edged Suns’ Monty Williams by earning 351 points to Williams’ 340. Williams did hold an advantage in first-place votes, 45-41.
But coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three for each second-place vote and one for each third-place vote.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder finished third with 161 points after the Utah finished with the league’s best record.
A panel of 100 sportswriters and sportscasters were responsible for the voting.
This is the second such honor for Thibodeau. He was also named Coach of the Year while with the Bulls in 2010-11, his first season as a head coach.
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