Thibodeau set to become Knicks’ new head coach
Tom Thibodeau is coming back to the New York Knicks, who are still seeking the success they enjoyed when he was an assistant two decades ago.
The Knicks are finishing a deal to make Thibodeau their coach, a person with knowledge of the details said Saturday.
No contract has been signed but a deal is expected to be announced next week.
ESPN first reported that the Knicks and Thibodeau were completing a five-year contract.
When they do, the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year in Chicago will become the 13th different person to coach the Knicks since Jeff Van Gundy resigned early in the 2001-02 season.
Thibodeau was an assistant under Van Gundy, who led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals and into the postseason in every season he was there. New York has reached the playoffs just three times since Van Gundy’s departure.
New Knicks President Leon Rose then interviewed a number of candidates before choosing Thibodeau from a field that included Jason Kidd, former Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson and Miller, who impressed Rose while going 17-27 before the season was suspended in March.
PELICANS’ WILLIAMSON IN 4-DAY QUARANTINE >> Zion Williamson will be out of quarantine by the time New Orleans plays in the first official game of the NBA restart at Walt Disney World.
The NBA said Saturday that Williamson will have to serve a four-day quarantine for leaving the league’s Disney bubble on July 16 to tend to an urgent family matter. He returned to Disney on Friday night and immediately went into quarantine.
Golf
WERENSKI, THOMPSON LEAD AT 3M OPEN >> Richy Werenski birdied three of the last four holes Saturday to erase a four-stroke deficit and catch Michael
Thompson for the 3M Open lead. After sharing the halfway lead, Thompson and Werenski traveled on vastly different paths to each shoot 3-under 68 before walking together to the clubhouse even again. They were at 15 under at the TPC Twin Cities .PARATORE WINS BRITISH MASTERS >> Renato Paratore won the British Masters for his second career victory on the European Tour on Saturday after closing with a 2-under 69 containing his first bogeys of the week.
Motorsports
JONES WINS XFINITY RACE IN OVERTIME >> Brandon Jones came roaring around the outside of Austin Cindric on the second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, then won the race to the finish line to win his second consecutive Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway.
It was the second win of the season for the 23-yearold Jones, and it kept Cindric from matching Sam Ard’s series record by winning his fourth straight race. Cindric wound up leading 131 of 175 laps in an otherwise dominant performance. CRAFTON WINS TRUCK SERIES RACE >> Matt Crafton ended a three-year winless streak when the three-time and reigning series champ held off Christian Eckes over the final 20 laps to win the second race of a doubleheader at Kansas Speedway. It was his first victory since Eldora in July 2017, a frustrating stretch off 67 races and oh-so many near misses.
NFL
JETS’ ADAMS TRADED TO SEAHAWKS >> Jamal Adams’ wish was finally granted: He’s leaving New York in a stunning trade.
The Jets dealt the disgruntled star safety to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, splitting with a gifted player whose relationship with the franchise quickly deteriorated because of a contract dispute.
The Jets received a massive haul in the deal Saturday,
sending a 2022 fourthround draft pick along with Adams to the Seahawks for a 2021 first-rounder, a 2022 first-rounder, a 2021 thirdrounder and safety Bradley Mcdougald, pending physicals.
Both teams confirmed the trade details, and the Seahawks welcomed Adams to the team in a Twitter post.
“Let’s get it!!!” Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson tweeted.
VIKINGS EXPECT RB COOK TO REPORT FOR CAMP >> The Minnesota Vikings are expecting running back Dalvin Cook to report on time for training camp, coach Mike Zimmer said Saturday.
Cook has begun the final year of his rookie contract. The 2019 Pro Bowl pick took a break from the virtual offseason program last month, seeking a new deal, but Zimmer said on a video conference call to discuss his contract extension that Cook told him he’d be present in Minnesota next week. Veterans will arrive Tuesday for coronavirus testing.