Derrick Rose provided an update on his former head coach, Tom Thibodeau, following his firing by the New York Knicks last month.
In a video posted by Steven Taranto of CBS Sports, Rose, who served as grand marshal for the NASCAR Cup Series Chicago Street Race over the weekend, was asked for his perspective on Thibodeau’s firing.
Rose said he has spoken to Thibodeau since his dismissal and described him as being in “good spirits.”
”You can’t be mad when you’re walking away with $30 million,” Rose said with a smile, referencing the remaining amount owed to Thibs by the Knicks.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Thibodeau is still owed $30 million from the three-year contract extension he signed with the team last year.
“You can’t be too sorry for him,” Rose continued. “But he’s in good spirits, and that’s my guy.”
Rose also gave props to former Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson, saying, “Jalen’s still in New York. He’s gonna be balling, so everybody wins.”
Following his firing, Thibodeau took out a full page ad in The New York Times to express his gratitude for his dream job as head coach of the Knicks.
“And to the fans, thank you for believing in me and embracing me from day one,” he wrote. “Watching you support our team, and seeing the Garden ignite with that incomparable Knicks energy, is something I will never forget.”
Thibodeau was Rose’s head coach during his stints with the Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and Minnesota Timberwolves.