Gar Forman: 'No Basis' To Speculation On Tom Thibodeau
(CBS) As speculation heats up about Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau's long-term future with the team in light of a rocky relationship with the front office, general manager Gar Forman has responded by calling the recent reports baseless.
"While as an organization we try to avoid responding to rumors, there is absolutely no basis to this recent speculation," Forman said in a statement to the Chicago Tribune. "We are very proud of what the team and our players have accomplished to this point in the season. And we will not allow anything to detract us from our ultimate goal. The focus of the entire organization -- from top to bottom -- is on winning basketball games."
It's long been known that Thibodeau hasn't seen eye-to-eye with Forman and executive vice president John Paxson, but that relationship has been thrust under a microscope following last Friday's comments from ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy — a friend of Thibodeau's — that team management has been undermining the coach.
Since Friday, that drama has only gained momentum. On Wednesday, Sun-Times beat writer Joe Cowley said if he had to guess, Thibodeau and the team would part ways after the season. On Thursday, the Tribune reported that some around the league "believe Thibodeau's relationship with management is beyond repair."
The Bulls are 30-17 and face the Lakers on the road tonight.