Former NBA journeyman and two-time all-star David West isn’t exactly thrilled with the Knicks’ decision to sign Tom Thibodeau as their new head coach.
Man how many times can u fail up as a black head coach…. https://t.co/afTfhdpMMz
— David West (@D_West30) July 25, 2020
It’s no secret that “Thibs” plays his players hard, in practice and in games.
Many players and analysts have postulated that Thibodeau’s aggressive coaching style has risked the long-term health of his players.
How many opportunities has Mark Jackson gotten?
— David West (@D_West30) July 25, 2020
Patrick Ewing got a shot at NBA job yet or I missed that?
— David West (@D_West30) July 25, 2020
Ty Lue been given another shot at leading a team?
— David West (@D_West30) July 25, 2020
Not everybody is opposed to Thibodeau however.
NBA champion and current analyst Kendrick Perkins said that he was a good hire for the Knicks and “the definition of culture.”
Although there was a lot of debate on Twitter about Thibodeau’s coaching style, West’s more emphatic point was about the fact that black coaches seem to get fewer second chances than white coaches.
West also suggested that Mark Jackson, Ty Lue, and Patrick Ewing were three candidates who haven’t been given fair chances at head coaching jobs.
As of today, there are eight black head coaches in the NBA.