Bulls’ Thibodeau wins NBA Coach of Year honor

Capping a wildly successful first year, the Chicago Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year on Sunday.

Thibodeau received 76 of 119 first-place votes and 475 points overall. Philadelphia’s Doug Collins second with 210 points.

“When you look at the numbers this year, it’s easy to see the impact Tom made on this team,” said Bulls GM Gar Forman. “This team ended up No. 1 in defensive field-goal percentage, No. 1 in 3-point percentage, No. 1 in rebounding, No. 2 in point differential, No. 2 in points allowed and probably most importantly No. 1 in wins with 62.

“But to me, it’s about much more than that. It was everybody’s belief here from Jerry Reinsdorf to myself to John (Paxson) and even our players that in order for us to continue to build towards becoming a championship-caliber team that this team needed an identity and base to it. And we needed that base to be built on defense and rebounding. I know Tom felt the same way. What Tom was able to do was create a culture that was based on that.”

Thibodeau guided the Bulls to a league-best 62-20 record after 21 years as an assistant coach, establishing a defensive mindset and relentlessly pursuing the unattainable perfect game.

“I think it’s more of a team award,” Thibodeau said. “When you win the way we’ve won -- and hopefully we have more winning to do -- individuals get recognized. But it’s more about the team and organization and players and entire coaching staff. You don’t achieve by yourself in this game. I can’t say enough about my staff and the incredible job they’ve done.”

>> Read Thibodeau’s full remarks from Sunday here

“I’ve never been around a coach who works as hard and wants to win as much as him,” Derrick Rose said.

Thibodeau led the Bulls to the league’s No. 1 seed despite major injuries to Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. He won three Eastern Conference coach of the month awards along the way.

“When you get a chance to watch us practice every day, you see the pace and flow we practice with, the attention to detail on a daily basis, the accountablity each and every day,” Forman said. “And you see the habits that are formed. You take those things into account and that’s a huge reason why we’ve had the success we’ve had to this point.

“Tom has created a culture of professionalism, work, unselfishness, teamwork, communication and trust. Through that, he has laid a foundation that will not only serve the team this year but for years to come. The thing that jumps out the most to me was he was able to do this with eight new players and a very talented staff but a new staff. We are absolutely thrilled for Tom and that he’s a part of our organization.”

It’s the Bulls’ first Coach of the Year winner since Phil Jackson for the 1995-96 season. Other Bulls coaches who were so honored include Dick Motta in 1971 and Johnny “Red” Kerr in 1967.

Thibodeau tied Paul Westphal’s NBA record for most victories by a first-year head coach.

Thibodeau had been passed over for countless opportunities as he toiled as an assistant, including successful stints with Jeff Van Gundy at the Knicks and Doc Rivers with the Celtics. At the latter stop, Thibodeau served as an associate head coach responsible for game-planning defenses in two trips to the NBA Finals.

At his introductory news conference last summer, Thibodeau preached his desire to establish rebounding and defense as the foundation for team success. The Bulls led or were near the top of both categories all season.

Thibodeau also earned players’ respect by working many of them out individually last summer.

“It’s kind of annoying,” Joakim Noah said playfully earlier this season. “He lives at the gym. You can’t get away from him.”

Thibodeau passed on more lucrative head coaching opportunities with the Nets and Hornets last summer to take the Bulls’ job. He called it the best team and best franchise.

And at least for this season, the Bulls have the best coach.

Tom Thibodeau, BULLS 76 29 8 475

Doug Collins, Philadelphia 18 31 27 210

Gregg Popovich, San Antonio 11 31 29 177

George Karl, Denver 12 18 25 139

Nate McMillan, Portland 1 5 8 28

Lionel Hollins, Memphis -- 4 7 19

Monty Williams, New Orleans -- -- 10 10

Erik Spoelstra, Miami 1 -- 1 6

Phil Jackson, LA Lakers -- 1 -- 3

Rick Carlisle, Dallas -- -- 2 2

Doc Rivers, Boston -- -- 1 1

Frank Vogel, Indiana -- -- 1 1