(CNN Philippines) — Tom Thibodeau got the pink slip on Friday (May 29) after being at the Chicago Bulls’ helm for half a decade.
Despite missing the services of star Derrick Rose for the most part, Thibodeau led the Bulls to the playoffs in each of his five seasons.
Rose, the former National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player, played only 181 of 394 games because he was shelved by an assortment of injuries. Without the team’s best scorer, Thibodeau turned the Bulls into an outstanding defensive team that has become a fixture in the postseason.
In fact, the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year had a .647 win percentage over the last five seasons, the fourth highest in the league in that span.
Just a few weeks ago, the Bulls were eliminated by four-time Most Valuable Player LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers in Eastern Conference semifinals.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf explained during the announcement of the firing Friday the organization is seeking a change in approach and culture.
“The Chicago Bulls have a history of achieving great success on and off the court. These accomplishments have been possible because of an organizational culture where input from all parts of the organization has been welcomed and valued, there has been a willingness to participate in a free flow of information, and there have been clear and consistent goals,” Reinsdorf said.
“While the head of each department of the organization must be free to make final decisions regarding his department, there must be free and open interdepartmental discussion and consideration of everyone’s ideas and opinions. These internal discussions must not be considered an invasion of turf, and must remain private. Teams that consistently perform at the highest levels are able to come together and be unified across the organization — staff, players, coaches, management and ownership. When everyone is on the same page, trust develops and teams can grow and succeed together.”
The chairman added that while the organization appreciates the contributions of Thibodeau, the change in the head coaching post was inevitable.
“Unfortunately, there has been a departure from this culture. To ensure that the Chicago Bulls can continue to grow and succeed, we have decided that a change in the head coaching position is required,” he said.
“Days like today are difficult, but necessary for us to achieve our goals and fulfill our commitments to our fans. I appreciate the contributions that Tom Thibodeau made to the Bulls organization. I have always respected his love of the game and wish him well in the future.”
