“What the hell is up with Thibs man?”: Charles Barkley to Jalen Brunson after Knicks steal Game 3 against pacers

 

“What the hell is up with Thibs, man?”: Charles Barkley to Jalen Brunson After Knicks Steal Game 3 Against Pacers

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NEW YORK — In the aftermath of a tense and gritty Game 3 between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers in the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals, TNT’s postgame coverage exploded with laughter and raw curiosity when NBA Hall of Famer and analyst Charles Barkley turned to Jalen Brunson and dropped the line of the night:

“What the hell is up with Thibs, man?”

The question, delivered with Barkley’s classic mix of confusion and comedic charm, lit up the postgame show and quickly went viral. It referenced Tom Thibodeau—known league-wide as Thibs—the intense, grind-heavy, defense-first coach of the Knicks who once again had his team clawing out an improbable win.

But Barkley’s bewilderment wasn’t ridicule. It was fascination.

After the Knicks stole Game 3 in Indianapolis 112–109, thanks to another fourth-quarter explosion by Jalen Brunson and a bruising, physical brand of basketball that has become synonymous with the Thibodeau Knicks, Barkley—and much of the basketball world—was asking the same question: How is Thibodeau doing this again?

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THE GAME: BRUNSON’S MASTERCLASS AND THE KNICKS’ RESILIENCE

Brunson finished with 36 points, 8 assists, and a clutch steal that swung the momentum in the final 90 seconds of play. But it wasn’t just his numbers that stood out. It was the way he orchestrated every moment of the fourth quarter, controlling tempo, exploiting mismatches, and bending Indiana’s defense with surgical precision.

The Knicks, once down by 10 midway through the third, refused to fold. Thibodeau’s rotations remained tight—only 7 players logged real minutes—but the intensity never wavered. Donte DiVincenzo hit two massive corner threes, Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds (8 offensive), and OG Anunoby suffocated Tyrese Haliburton into one of his quietest games of the playoffs.

At the final buzzer, Brunson let out a primal scream, while Thibodeau, drenched in sweat as if he’d just played 40 minutes himself, gave his usual stoic fist pump.

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BARKLEY’S QUESTION: “WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THIBS, MAN?”

On the TNT set minutes later, with Jalen Brunson joining via video call from the visiting locker room, Barkley couldn’t resist. Ernie Johnson opened the segment with praise for the Knicks’ toughness and Brunson’s brilliance. Kenny Smith broke down a few of the late-game plays. But it was Barkley who made headlines.

“Listen, man,” Barkley said, shaking his head, “I don’t understand how y’all keep winning these games. You got like 5 guys who play the whole game, you down a couple stars, and every night you just out-hustle these teams. I gotta ask you straight up, Jalen—what the hell is up with Thibs, man?”

The question cracked everyone up—Brunson included.

Brunson chuckled, then replied, “Chuck, you already know what’s up with Thibs. He’s insane—in the best way possible.”

That set off another round of laughter, but Brunson quickly pivoted to seriousness. “He pushes us, man. Every single day. Practices, walkthroughs, shootarounds—everything is intentional. It’s about preparation, grit, and accountability. We’re never surprised in a game because he’s made sure we’ve already seen everything in practice.”

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THE CULTURE OF THIBODEAU’S KNICKS

Tom Thibodeau has long been a polarizing figure in NBA coaching circles. His intensity, his heavy reliance on star players logging big minutes, and his old-school demeanor have often raised eyebrows. Critics cite the risk of player burnout. Supporters point to his unmatched ability to instill toughness and cohesion.

Since arriving in New York in 2020, Thibodeau has fundamentally changed the Knicks’ DNA. Gone are the chaotic rosters of the past. In their place is a team that plays with discipline, physicality, and a commitment to defense that borders on obsessive.

Injuries have plagued the Knicks all season—and especially this postseason. Julius Randle has been out since January. Mitchell Robinson is battling ankle issues. Bojan Bogdanović was ruled out for the playoffs. And yet, Thibodeau’s squad continues to march forward.

Game 3 was a perfect example.

The Pacers, younger, faster, and deeper, had everything going for them: home court, healthier bodies, and a fast-paced offense that overwhelmed Milwaukee in the first round. But New York slowed the game down, turned it into a fistfight in the paint, and snatched the win late with sheer will.

And that’s Thibs in a nutshell.

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KNICKS’ LOCKER ROOM: “WE’RE REFLECTIONS OF OUR COACH”

After the game, several Knicks players echoed a common theme—this is Thibodeau’s team through and through.

“People talk about minutes,” Josh Hart said. “Man, we don’t care. This is the playoffs. You think Thibs has to beg us to play 40 minutes? We want that. We take pride in outworking the other team. That’s New York basketball.”

OG Anunoby added: “Everything we do starts with defense. That’s the culture. That’s Thibs.”

Even Hartenstein, who played through a sore Achilles, refused to use fatigue as an excuse. “Thibs told us before the game: ‘You get tired, you rest in the summer.’ That’s the message.”

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CHARLES BARKLEY’S FULL TAKE: PRAISE THROUGH LAUGHTER

Back on the TNT set, Barkley continued his Thibodeau rant—but this time with unfiltered admiration.

“I give him credit,” Barkley said. “I joke about Thibs because he looks like he’s one missed call away from a heart attack every game. But man, his teams fight. They don’t give up. He’s got those boys believing they can beat anybody, anywhere, and that’s special.”

Kenny Smith nodded in agreement. “The thing about Thibs,” he added, “is he creates accountability. Every player knows what’s expected of them. There’s no freelancing. You execute, or you sit.”

Shaquille O’Neal summed it up even simpler: “They play like grown men. That’s all coaching.”

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JALEN BRUNSON: “THIBS IS BUILT FOR NEW YORK”

Jalen Brunson has flourished under Thibodeau’s guidance. Since signing with the Knicks in 2022, the former Dallas Maverick has blossomed into an All-Star, a team leader, and now a certified playoff killer.

“I think we understand each other,” Brunson said about Thibodeau. “He demands a lot. But he gives you everything too. He lives and breathes this stuff. We feed off that.”

When asked whether Thibodeau ever eases up, Brunson smiled. “Never. Not even at shootaround. But that’s why we’re here.”

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NEW YORK’S FANS: ALL-IN ON THIBS

At Madison Square Garden, “Thibs” chants are no longer rare. Once a figure some doubted could thrive in the pressure cooker of New York media and fan scrutiny, Thibodeau has become the embodiment of what Knicks fans crave: effort, pride, and results.

After Game 3, social media lit up with memes of Barkley’s quote, “What the hell is up with Thibs?” But alongside the humor was genuine appreciation for the Knicks’ coach.

On Reddit, a top comment read: “Thibs might age us all 10 years, but I’d go to war for that man.”
Another simply said: “Thibsball forever.”

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LOOKING AHEAD: CAN THE KNICKS CLOSE THE DEAL?

With the Knicks now up 2–1 in the series, Game 4 becomes a critical swing point. A win would give New York a commanding lead with a chance to close things out at Madison Square Garden. But the Pacers are hungry, athletic, and desperate to avoid falling behind further.

Thibodeau knows this better than anyone.

“We haven’t done anything yet,” he said in his postgame press conference. “It’s one game. That’s all. We need to prepare better, execute better, and play harder next time. The job isn’t finished.”

It’s classic Thibodeau—never satisfied, never too high, never too low.

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CONCLUSION: THE METHOD BEHIND THE MAYHEM

Charles Barkley’s humorous outburst—“What the hell is up with Thibs, man?”—captured the sentiment of millions watching the 2025 NBA Playoffs. It’s part awe, part confusion, part admiration.

How is Thibodeau pulling this off again?

With a short rotation, missing key pieces, facing a younger team, and asking his core players to carry Herculean loads, Thibodeau has somehow maneuvered his Knicks into the driver’s seat of a brutal second-round series.

And at the center of it all is Jalen Brunson, the coach’s trusted floor general, the team’s emotional heartbeat, and now the face of a resurgent New York franchise.

As the playoffs march on, one thing is certain: if the Knicks keep playing like this, people everywhere—fans, pundits, and even NBA legends like Barkley—will keep asking:

What the hell is up with Thibs, man?

And the answer, quite simply, is: everything that’s right with New York basketball.