Why Mikal Bridges asked Tom Thibodeau to play Knicks starters fewer minutes?
Mikal Bridges asked Tom Thibodeau to back off a bit on the starters’ minutes because the bench deserves more.
“Sometimes it’s not fun on the body,” Bridges said. “You’ll want that as a coach but also talked to him a little bit knowing that we’ve got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don’t need to play 48 (minutes), 47.
“We’ve got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes. Which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there.”
#knicks #mikalbridges #tomthibodeau #nyknicks #newyorkknicks #nba #basketball #nypostsports
https://nypost.com/2025/03/12/sports/why-mikal-bridges-asked-tom-thibodeau-to-play-knicks-starters-less/
Subscribe and don’t miss out on all the key news, highlights, and interviews about the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Devils, Islanders and what’s buzzing in the sports world too!
Catch the latest news here: https://nypost.com/sports/
Follow The New York Post Sports on:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/nypostsports
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nypostsports/
40 Comments
Shouts to my guy Bondy!
The Knicks they will never mouth up to nothing more and what you all seen in until they get a good coach try some one else thibs is a sick person.
That they spend is there problem that you saying go on sit your you no what down .
If he know so much why don't he win a championship.
Mikal is right, the coach should play Deuce, Cam, Shamet & Precious more minutes. Don't forget about Tyler K.!
You is a fool, you only getting pay exactly for been just what you're a fake full of is if people only could what you all is .
Is this guy a player or a reporter,he knows that's too many minutes
Bridges is just being real!!! Tib's has run his starting unit into the ground we have 3 starters in the top 10 in minutes played this year Hart 61 GP 37.8 Bridges 64 GP 37.8 OG 58 GP 36.6 hell Brunson 61 GP 35.4 Kat 57 GP 35.2. You got to allow your bench some real PT so come playoffs they are ready when called upon. Yo you don't play your starters when you have a double-digit lead this is the time you give your starters some rest so you can have fresh legs down the stretch. And if you're playing bottom feeders like Wizards Jazz 76'ers you utilize your bench more.
So this guy agrees with Thibs….smh…play the starters heavy minutes until the entire team pulls a hammy because the bench is trash…ok got it😂😂😂😂
The point is not if this bench players are going to be great or starters but if you are not overplaying and breaking your stars you pro management lackey
Thibs has never won a finals or even gotten to a finals. But he is famous for shortening the careers of his stars and wasting their talent in meaningless minutes
Come on Bondy stop!! Should Hart be playing 40 plus minutes with a knee issue ? You criticized these players but you know NOTHING about. Yeah exactly the Thibs attitude on players. So you’re saying what Thibs is saying Rose has failed. Wow a true Pro Thibs. Bondy you’re a phony. What about Lou Deng Noah Rose ???? What ran him out of Minnesota. You need to stop drinking the Thibs. You kool aid. You respect Writers takes. But you look straight through this attempt of saving face. To sboic Thibx wrath for asking. You asked nos you’d b as ok peddling! Why did you asked? Because you know it’s true.
Bondy is Clueless on anything he says
Shamet isn’t playing well… He’s garbage. So is Precious!
Bridges is right and he is to be commended for speaking up and lot of Knicks fan that know basketball have been saying the same thing the past two years. Thibbs is a dinosaur and set in his ways and Knicks management won't open their mouths kudos to Bridges for bringing attention to this relentless and unforgiving coaching style. And if the Knicks don't make the Eastern conference finals fire Thibbs and get a coach with an open mind.
Mikal’s not wrong, but he should be benched.. he’s soft and avoids contact at all times
Trust the player not the reporter. So Mikal didn’t bring this up Bondy asked him if he thought it was fair to play the starters so many minutes. Mikal said it’s tough on the body and the bench guys earned playing time. Bondy disagrees saying the bench is not good enough. Why did you ask him just to disregard his response. You just wanted a sound bite. Now everyone is going to be criticizing Mikal even more. Way to go Bondy that’s why players don’t like reporters you set him up.
THIS FOOL REPORTER ISN'T A PLAYER…MIKAL HAS WAY MORE CREDIBILITY.
As much as I defended Coach Thibs and he is the right Coach but Mikal is absolutely right. In the past Coach had a point but now, the bench is capable.
No reason for Thibs to wait until trading Sims to start giving Hukporti real minutes. Hasn't gave Kolek meaningful playing time, even with Brunson out now. Didn't play last game against the Kings and he didn't plan to play them. Garbage minutes don't count.
Fire Thibs already by the time they get to the playoffs they’ll be washed up
The bench is buns! Thibs is really caught in a catch-22 situation 🤷🏾♂️ give the reserves minutes though they aren’t productive and rest the starters while still trying to win games
Also, let's not pretend as if players don't typically give PC answers when answering questions like that… Thibs is clearly not a great talent scout because he didn't play Duece meaningful minutes until injuries forced him to. He didn't play Quentin Grimes until injuries forced him to. He didn't play Donte' until Grimes played himself out of the starting role. Those are three players who didn't get rotation minutes until Thibs was forced to.
Play the bench thibs
I would play Bridges 20 minutes tonight for making it public
Well said, i thought mikal started complaining but it was bondy making a story
Idk…Mikal Bridges went to the Finals with Cam Payne and Landry Shamet playing relatively huge minutes.
You mean the lineup that y'all said was a championship contender and was worth giving up five first round draft picks and SIGNING OG to the highest Max contract as a Knick LMAO 😂😅
Teams know the Knicks starters will be a step or two slower in the 4th Quarter. That’s their strategy. Mikal is courageous enough to speak up.
It’s not complicated at all. Bridges is a billion % right. Anyone with half a brain knows this. This years and all the years.
He gets Burks the ball more in the playoffs they’re in the ecf. He features rj against the heat that didn’t have answer for him but no why go to him?
We need 3s he benches frenchie. It’s not about him not playing stars it’s about him not utilizing his bench to keep everyone fresh and going to the hot hands. He who is this guy talking Tom’s nephew?
I dont have no Level of Trust in Bum Ass Thibs
Damn 10 years later…
the guest was right not the internet idiots. thibs will play you if you can play. but this bench is weak. playing them more means more losses. if you are fine with losing play the bench more minutes.
Like I've said before the problem was the bench has sucked for most of the season and Thibs wants to win games. He's not going to play guys who are not helping to win. They have played better lately especially Shamet and that is mainly who Bridges was referring to. Maybe having Mitchell Robinson back finally has solidified things also defensively. I want to see PJ Tucker get in with Mitch on the 2nd unit then we will be a menace defensively.
with J.B out some people me included were like ok time for people to step up Bridges being the biggest one needing to do that who knew he was the Narc working undercover for " the minutes police " the current ironman for the NBA …Lo and behold he was a double agent knockin down the game winning three!! GO KNICKS !! Now Go into MF'N San Fran shut Draymond's big mouth up and take him hostage ! NY STRONG!
It's rare u have a guy like Manu Ginobli on the bench as a 6th man, however u have 2 play who u have & not run players into the ground. When the bench is playong well leave them in, shooting wise if u get no playing time, u have no rhythm & it throws most shooters off. This team is banged up, so rest is important.
Stupid take. Uhm Quentin Grimes and RJ Barrett are two who have been thriving after thibs. Sims and Obi might not put spectacular numbers, but they;re rotation players with their current clubs. You play who you have to preserve your main guys.
I don’t think it’s about can those players be stars and be great it’s a matter of spelling out minutes for the starters to recharge for the next time they are in
Mikal is on point TiB need to ease the load
J Hart doesn’t guard the opposing teams best players