Chicago Bulls

Report: Tom Thibodeau resisted anti-injury technology

Published Jun. 3, 2015 3:28 p.m. ET

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Much has been made of Tom Thibodeau's old-school ethics. The recently dismissed head coach of the Chicago Bulls was the subject of rumors all season long, centered around disputes with his front office about just how much grinding a human body can take.

The most recent report out of Chicago seems especially telling. In a column about wearable technology used by the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors, which helps prevent injury, Ken Berger of CBS Sports tells us that Thibodeau protested the gear at a summit.

"At a presentation on wearable technology organized by coaching agent Warren Legarie last year in Chicago," Berger writes, "Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau raised his hand. Everyone in the audience knew where this was going.

"Thibodeau, fired last week by the Bulls and replaced by Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg, had resisted overtures from Bulls management to employ wearable technology to monitor players’ recovery, league sources said.

"'He was basically challenging it, like, ‘Michael Jordan didn’t need that,’ [Brian Kopp, president of the sports tech company Catapult] said. 'Fair point, but one of the most amazing athletes in the entire world, I would argue, would’ve benefited, too. There’s a reason why they call it old school, because it’s been replaced by new thinking.'"

For all the great things Thibodeau is worth glorifying for, there's no denying that his primordial take on player preservation is a serious weak point.

(h/t Ken Berger, CBS Sports)

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