New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t appear to be a big fan of ‘The Roommates Show’ with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart have a long-standing friendship that predates their NBA days. The pair were roommates on the 2017 national title-winning Villanova Wildcats before being reunited in the NBA on the Knicks in the summer of 2022.
Last year, the pair launched a new show together. ‘The Roommates Show’ has become a fan-favorite since its inception, with Brunson and Hart shining as co-hosts. While stars often used to get hate for starting their own shows, Brunson and Hart’s effort has rarely been criticized.
This is primarily because their work ethic is evident on the court. In addition, everyone knows they have a head coach who’d set them straight if their podcast ever interfered with their effort in practice or on the court.
The dynamic between head coach Tom Thibodeau and these two stars is hilarious, as evident in the latest release of the ‘Roommates Show.’
Brunson and Hart were recording the podcast when the audience could see Thibodeau calling Brunson’s phone. The point guard was quick to inform coach Thibs he was being recorded, as he reacted negatively before a funny exchange with his stars.
Josh Hart: “We’re doing a podcast.”
Tom Thibodeau: “Oh God. Oh God, please no.”
Jalen Brunson: “Like you said during practice today, ‘Go do a podcast,’ right cause me and Josh were BSing, so here we are.”
Tom Thibodeau: “Finally listening.”
The relationship Thibodeau has with his star players is special. He regularly grinds them by playing them for heavy minutes. However, very few players wind up complaining and give it their all for their coach and the team.
Hart is a shining example of this, playing 37.8 minutes per game. Brunson doesn’t have a much lighter load, averaging 35.2 minutes per game. Their teammate Mikal Bridges leads the NBA in minutes per game with 38.2.
The fact that Brunson is also the team’s primary ball-handler has to be exhausting.
After decades of trial and error, the Knicks finally have a competitive team. They’re 36-18 this season. The franchise went all-in over the summer with acquisitions of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. They have a core of players that could realistically contend for titles for many years to come.
New York holds the No. 3 seed in the East right now. The team’s focus on winning is remarkable to see but is also a product of coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibs has been in charge since 2020, leading the franchise to three Playoff appearances in that span.
With a roster headlined by a franchise point guard and a dynamic seven-foot scorer, the Knicks can end a 52-year title drought. Whether they can do it this season remains to be seen. But they will be amongst the NBA’s title contenders for the foreseeable future.
