Tom Thibodeau Cracks Joke About Pope’s Loose Knicks Connection
Sports fans were in a frenzy on social media after the Catholic Church elected its new leader, and it’s added an interesting dynamic to the Boston Celtics-New York Knicks series.
Cardinal Robert Prevost was named Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old Thursday became the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. Fans had a field day learning that Pope Leo XIV is a Chicago native and a Villanova graduate.
That fact caught Knicks fans’ attention and elicited jokes that New York — with a trinity of Villanova alums on its roster — had a higher power on its side against the Celtics. Tom Thibodeau decided to join in on the banter Friday.
“Yeah, now they can be forgiven for their sins,” Thibodeau told reporters, per The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III.
Like the reporters in the room, Jalen Brunson simply laughed when he heard about Thibodeau’s reaction.
Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are the Villanova contingent on the Knicks. The trio are close friends to the point where Brunson clowned Hart for his one national championship, unlike Brunson’s and Bridges’ two national titles.
The jokes will be thrown to the side Saturday when the Celtics hope to avoid going down 0-3 when they play the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.