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Is Tom Thibodeau the key to success for Minnesota?

Could the Minnesota Timberwolves build a dynasty arount KAT? (Wikimedia Commons: Dennis Adair)
Roar Rookie
21st April, 2016
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to sign Tom Thibodeau as coach and president of basketball operations on Thursday.

While the specifics of the agreement are being finalised by team management, the Wolves have reportedly offered Thibodeau a five-year contract and an $8-million annual salary as part of the deal.

The Timberwolves finished the regular season with a record of 29-53.

However, the Wolves’ head coaching position was arguably one of the most intriguing vacant roles in the NBA. Minnesota was in desperate need of a quality head coach that could effectively develop the team’s inexperienced core into a Western Conference threat for the future.

Tom Thibodeau began his coaching career as an assistant of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989.

Since then, he has become an established coach in the National Basketball Association, winning a championship in 2008 as Assistant Coach of the Boston Celtics before being awarded his first head coaching position in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls in 2010.

Thibodeau led the Chicago Bulls to a 62-20 regular season record in his first season as head coach, earning him the 2010-11 Coach of the Year award.

As a head coach, he was able to solidify his name with some of the greatest ever. Thibodeau attained the sixth-best win percentage (64.7 per cent) with minimum 250 games coached, behind the likes of Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, Billy Cunningham, KC Jones and Red Auerbach.

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“It is an incredible opportunity to re-join the organisation [Minnesota] at a time when they have what I believe to be the best young roster in the NBA.” Thibodeau commented after hearing news of his hiring, per Jerry Zgoda.

Minnesota boasts a team riddled with inexperienced players and superb raw talent.

The Wolves’ young talent is led by two Rookie of the Year awardees. Andrew Wiggins, a tenacious slasher and projected future All-Star of the NBA and Karl-Anthony Towns, a developing big-man learning under the expert mentorship of Kevin Garnett.

Minnesota is also home to a number of young players making a name for themselves through impressive regular season play.

Zach LaVine has become an athletic combo-guard with potential that has exceeded many people’s expectations. Meanwhile, Shabazz Muhammed continues to show positive flashes of offensive talent in his third year in the NBA.

The question moving forward will be if Thibodeau can develop these players into a cohesive powerhouse driven by his signature defensive intensity.

He has done it all before – developing Jimmy Butler, the six-foot-seven swingman, into an NBA All-Star while winning a Most Improved Player award on his way to elite status.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves have not-yet participated in an NBA Finals series, let alone captured a championship.

However, with a young team that oozes potential and a ‘superstar’ head coach, are they closer to a future dynasty than we all think?

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