Tom Thibodeau — CC
Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks received the Red Auerbach Trophy as 2020-2021 NBA Coach of the Year, the NBA announced on Monday.
Thibodeau earned 45 first-place votes and a total of 351 points, to narrowly edge out Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, who got 43 and 340, respectively. It was the smallest margin — just 11 points — to separate the first- and second-place finishers since the points format started in 2002-2003.
Thibodeau was also named the league’s top coach during the 2010-2011 season with the Chicago Bulls, becoming the first coach to earn the honors in his first season for two different franchises.
Thibodeau led the Knicks to a 41-31 record this season, which was enough for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference. Those results led the Knicks the postseason for the first time since the 2012-2013 campaign, but they were eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
