What Is Tom Thibodeau Doing At The Boston Celtics' Practice Session?

Five months ago, Tom Thibodeau was leading the New York Knicks to victory over his former team, the Boston Celtics, in the second round of the NBA playoffs. By orchestrating the Celtics’ defeat in six games, Thibodeau brought New York to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.

So, what was Thibodeau doing when he showed up at a Celtics practice session on Monday?

This surprise appearance is the latest plot twist involving the coaching career of Thibodeau, who was dismissed after the Knicks failed to reach the NBA Finals. Yet, there he was, speaking to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and breaking down film with the Celtics players ahead of their opening-week matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.

It appears to be no coincidence, either, that the Celtics will be taking on the Knicks this Friday. There’s no way that Thibodeau has forgotten his unceremonious dismissal from New York, and now, he has reportedly given the Celtics intel on their Eastern Conference rivals.

Thibodeau’s history with the Celtics goes all the way back to the late 2000s, when he was named associate head coach under Doc Rivers. Thibodeau’s impeccable strategy on the defensive end helped the Celtics reach two Finals series, including a championship conquest in 2008.

The Connecticut native then accepted the position of Chicago Bulls head coach, a role that put him in a position to mentor a young prodigy by the name of Derrick Rose. In the five years that Thibodeau spent as Chicago's head coach, the Bulls made the playoffs five consecutive seasons, even taking a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011.

However, Thibodeau would come under fire for his coaching style that entailed heavy minutes for his trusted players. Rose, unfortunately, would be beset by injuries even as he rose to stardom in the NBA.

A decade later, this criticism continued to hound Thibodeau in New York, as he kept using short rotations that demanded tremendous stamina from the likes of Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Despite the Knicks’ conference finals appearance this past season, the front office decided that Thibodeau and his style would no longer be viable for the team moving forward.

Now, coach Thibs has gone viral for chatting with Mazzulla and injured Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum. Fans will never know the full extent of these conversations, but perhaps, a few scouted moves here and there on Friday will show the impact of Thibodeau’s intel on the Celtics’ strategy.