Tom Thibodeau first met Kobe Bryant as a high school teenager. Now, some 20 years later, some are speculating the similar circumstances each man now finds himself in could led them back together.
All season long, Thibodeau has been at odds with Bulls management over their banishment of close friend and top assistant Ron Adams. Meanwhile, coming off their worst season in franchise history, Bryant and the Lakers now find themselves in desperate need of a leader who can provide just Twhat hibodeau has proven he can.
It's all enough to have some wondering if Thibodeau and Bryant could co-exist in the Lakers locker room and if the Lakers might be wise to pursue him as a possible replacement for current coach Mike D'Antoni.
Recently speaking to CSNChicago.com about the first time he laid eyes on Bryant, the respect and admiration the veteran coach still holds the Hall of Fame bound guard in is obvious.
Tom Thibodeau at odds with Bulls front office
"You could see the talent," he said. "He was a high school player who played with the college guys and then with the pros, he was in the gym all day. His will and his determination to be great and never satisfied, he had that in him from the beginning."
The Lakers should know having any chance of landing Thibodeau won't come easily. Not only are the Bulls almost certain to offer some resistance, Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks are also rumored to have Jeff Van Gundy's former assistant high on their wish list.
Through it all, Thibodeau labors on in the way that makes him so desirable. Without Derrick Rose for all but 10 games and Luol Deng since before the All-Star break, the Bulls still find themselves in the driver's seat in terms of landing homecourt advantage in their upcoming first-round playoff series.
In addition, the Bulls still have an outside chance of winning 50 games this season and of finishing as high as the Eastern Conference's No. 3 overall seed.
The Lakers and the Knicks can only dream of such good fortune.
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