Bulls’ Paxson: ‘Thibodeau isn’t being undermined’

During Friday’s Bulls-Mavericks telecast, ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy accused Bulls management of trying to undermine coach Tom Thibodeau by leaking disparaging stories, saying the practice dates to Phil Jackson’s tenure as well as Scott Skiles’ and Vinny Del Negro’s.

Asked Sunday about Van Gundy’s comments, management responded.

“Tom Thibodeau isn’t being undermined at all,” said John Paxson, executive vice president of basketball operations. “What’s being undermined is the entire Bulls organization by Van Gundy, who has an agenda against our organization for whatever reason and has for years. I guess he thinks he’s trying to protect his friend, but he’s doing just the opposite. It’s pretty pathetic when you think about it, and truth be told he owes Jerry Reinsdorf an apology for his disparaging remarks.”

via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune