Tom Thibodow exhausting all options to fill the void left by Mitchell Robinson
Sports
Coach Tom Thibodow fills the Mitchell Robinson void with passion and determination
Tom Thibodow is one of the most well-known coaches in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, who has been with the Chicago Bulls for nearly a decade. His ability as a head coach has always garnered the respect of basketball fans, but with the recent resignation of legendary Hall-of-Famer, Mitchell Robinson, Thibodow's option to fill his vacant spot on the team is running out fast.
Thibodow, whose contract expires next summer, has already shown his loyalty and dedication to the Bulls franchise, leading them to their highest win total since the 1997–98 season. He was able to help the Bulls win two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and several conference championships. The 2017-18 season brought about the biggest challenge so far for him as he led the team to the Western Conference Semifinals, marking the first time they had made it that far since 1996.
Despite Thibodow's significant success, there are no signs that the young coach has shown interest in prolonging his contract beyond this year. Some believe that there could be two or even three years left on his current contract when he negotiates the terms of the long-term deal. Regardless of whether or not he chooses to do so, it remains unclear if Thibodow will take the plunge and sign an extension that would allow him to lead the Bulls into a new era. For now, it appears as though Thibodow will continue to work hard to help lead the team to another championship, but whether he can accomplish that without another contract extension is yet to be seen.
As the man who has been with the Bulls for over ten years, Thibodow will have the opportunity to bring a change of pace to the organization. Robinson’s absence has created one major hole in the roster as a guard, and Thibodow knows that he can fill that void by bringing in a player who has similarities to the Hall-of-Famer. Since Robinson retired last summer, the Bulls have not drafted a guard or signed a significant free agent of any position after Robinson’s departure from the team. As a result, Thibodow must decide which direction to go next.
For a seasoned head coach like Thibodow, filling the Mitchell Robinson vacancy is going to be a difficult task. It’s a well-paying job and offers stability, but it doesn’t promise that a franchise playoff berth every season. Instead, Thibodow must rely on talented players he’s assembled to guide the team to success, which means finding the perfect replacement to be able to fill the gap left by Robinson’s departure.
