When Tom Thibodeau took over as head coach of the Chicago Bulls in late June 2010, the move drew attention from none other than then–U.S. President Barack Obama.
The former POTUS — and a lifelong Bulls fan — mentioned the hire when he met Thibodeau’s former team, the Boston Celtics, at a fundraiser in Massachusetts.
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The Celtics met President Obama
The Celtics got a rare taste of presidential company when they met Obama at a fundraiser inside Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Instead of praising the team, though, the president zeroed in on someone who wasn’t even there: Thibodeau.
Once one of Boston’s defensive masterminds and an assistant coach during the 2008 championship run, Thibodeau had moved on to lead the Bulls — his first job as the main man on an NBA sideline.
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Former Celtics guard Ray Allen recalled how the move clearly delighted Obama.
“He (Obama) actually thanked us for giving him our guy,” Allen said in March 2011, per ESPN. “He was like, ‘How’d you guys let that guy go?”
Allen, a 1996 draft pick, had been in the league for nearly 15 years at the time. A proven veteran, he had long understood the league’s inner workings. He explained to the 44th president that coaching changes are simply part of the business — “just how it works.”
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Presidential praise for Thibodeau
Then, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, a Chicago native himself, joined the lighthearted exchange. He joked with the president about “cheering for Chicago all the time,” reminding him that the Celtics deserved some love, too.
This wasn’t the first time Rivers and Obama had crossed paths. The previous summer, Rivers had famously sent a call from the president straight to voicemail, not realizing it was a congratulatory message for Boston’s playoff run.
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Although they eventually reconnected, Obama still teased the NBA’s 2000 Coach of the Year about the missed call during Tuesday night’s meeting. Rivers, for his part, promised to answer any future calls from the 202 area code — the prefix for Washington, D.C., and the White House.
As for Thibodeau, he couldn’t fully showcase with the Bulls why he’d earned Obama’s praise at the time. His time in Chicago had highs — including an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in his first season — but also lows, such as facing a gentleman sweep by the Washington Wizards in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs.
Ultimately, Thibodeau was let go after five seasons with the team, posting a .647 regular-season win percentage and a .451 mark in the playoffs — a move Obama also commented on.
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“Love Thibs and think he did a great job. Sorry to see him go, but expect he will be snatched up soon by another team,” he wrote on Twitter in May 2015.
That “team” first became USA Basketball, where Thibodeau served as an assistant coach, and then the Minnesota Timberwolves, who hired him in April 2016. After nearly three years there, the 67-year-old moved on to the New York Knicks, who, just a few months ago, let him go after five seasons.
While Thibodeau is currently unemployed, it’s safe to say that if a team shows interest and seeks references, Obama — given his past comments — would likely endorse the head coach’s abilities without hesitation.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.