B.J. Armstrong, former Bulls guard and recent agent for Derrick Rose, has been in awe of how properly Tom Thibodeau got alongside with his shopper.

Rose grew to become the league’s youngest MVP at age 22 beneath Thibodeau’s check out in 2011. Then Rose followed the mentor from Chicago to Minnesota. Armstrong phone calls it “a lovely romantic relationship.’’

The variables that built their robust link is why Armstrong thinks he desires to return to the sidelines to mentor the Knicks, who check out him as their best candidate.

“I constantly admired how [Thibodeau] coached,’’ Armstrong informed The Publish. “He delivers the fireplace and the warmth. And most importantly, he’s always prepared for the sport. He enjoys the game. He experienced an excellent career in this league. He manufactured a lifestyle dedication to the recreation. I’ll be definitely joyful for him [if he gets the job].’’

Thibodeau and the previous Knicks stage guard were cut from the identical fabric, Armstrong reported.

“Every now and then, you come across anyone who matches your persona,’’ stated Armstrong, who hosts the “Pushinthru” podcast on which Thibodeau was a latest guest. “Tom and Derrick just strike it off. They’re peas in a pod. They’re basketball junkies. They appreciate the video game. They both equally adore to contend. They experienced a exclusive understanding among on their own.

“I’ve seen these two sit there and chat basketball several hours on conclude. Coach Thibodeau enjoys basketball. There’s no question about it. When you meet up with Derrick, he loves the video game. When you put people two jointly, you just have this chemistry and mutual regard for their enthusiasm for basketball.

“Derrick would perform basketball all day if he could,’’ Armstrong additional. “Coach Thibodeau will view film and mentor the recreation all day if he could. It’s the most critical detail in their lives.’’

Some Thibodeau observers have questioned if he is actually much too obsessed with basketball and if the former Knicks assistant mentor could use other outlets. Thibodeau hardly ever married and has no young children.

But it’s possible this is precisely what the woebegone Knicks, a clown clearly show for 7 non-playoff yrs, desires.

“Coach Thibs is one particular of the a lot more fantastic dazzling minds in this league,’’ Armstrong claimed. “No question about it. He has the regard of a lot of men and women in this league who he has touched. He’s generally been a individual whose served his gamers and fought for his gamers, and I know he respects his gamers immensely.’’

While Thibodeau has been out of do the job because January 2019 following getting fired by the Timberwolves, Armstrong is familiar with he’s not been far from basketball. Indeed, Thibodeau frequented various coaches and their team tactics this past time. The 62-12 months-aged from New Britain, Conn., also attended the Sloane Conference at MIT to absorb himself in analytics.

“No subject, he’ll locate means to be all-around the sport,’’ Armstrong mentioned. “He viewed a couple of game titles each night and went to check out numerous coaches and teams, and was in close speak to with all the coaches. He’s a lifer. Some engage in or mentor as a task. Some of us, it’s what they do irrespective of [employment]. He most likely invested additional time chatting the video game than when he was coaching. He’s likely to discuss basketball. Life has not altered a great deal for him.’’

Thibodeau’s head-coaching document stands at 352-246, but still faced criticism soon after his Minnesota stint ended 18 months back despite breaking the franchise’s 13-year playoff drought.

Thibodeau had been billed with currently being out of contact with millennial gamers whilst not adhering to new load-administration concepts. Theories abound that his overplaying Rose brought about his ACL accidents. Rose does not believe that way, according to his agent.

“It never ever occurred to us,’’ Armstrong mentioned. “Their monitor file together speaks for itself. Every person is entitled to their view. I get it. That is the organization we’re in. We live in a public lifetime. But they are going to be lifelong pals.’’

When Rose was waived by Utah in 2018, Thibodeau signed him when a roster spot opened.

“As before long as the option arose, he was first in line,’’ Armstrong reported.

Rose weaved a productive bounce-again time for Detroit, but has just one calendar year left on his pact. If Thibodeau returns to New York, you can by no means count out Rose returning, too.

“I’ve never questioned [Thibodeau’s] knowledge of the match or understanding of the game and he will usually be 1 of the top rated coaches in the league as lengthy as the talent is there,’’ Armstrong said.