NBA – Bulls rookie boss Thibodeau is NBA's Coach of the Year; Artest gets Citizenship award

CHICAGO (NBA) - The Chicago Bulls finished with the best mark in the NBA's Eastern Conference of 62-20 and then advanced to the play-off semi-finals with a 4-1 first-round series triumph over the Indiana Pacers.

While Derrick Rose and the players make most of the headlines, there’s no doubting the impact of first-year Bulls boss Tom Thibodeau.

He has been named as the NBA Coach of the Year.

Thibodeau, who replaced Vinny Del Negro at the helm last summer, is thrilled with the award.

"I'm flattered, humbled and honored to receive this award, but I think it represents a lot more than just me," he said. "And it certainly reflects our team winning and our entire organization."

Thibodeau had only held one head coaching position before taking the Bulls reins and that was with Division III college Salem State.

He worked under Bill Musselman with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989 and also served on the staff of Doc Rivers when the Boston Celtics captured the NBA title three years ago.

"After being here for a year, I realize how fortunate I am to be here," Thibodeau said.

"It's a great city, great fans, great organization, great players. And if it meant waiting 20 years to get this job, it was well worth the wait."

The Bulls begin their play-off series against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night in Chicago.

Another award was handed out a few days back, this time to former NBA bad boy turned good Ron Artest.

The Los Angeles Lakers is to receive this year’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, an honour that recognizes outstanding service and dedication to the community.

The award is the oldest citizenship and community service award in the NBA and is named in honour of the league’s second commissioner who served from 1963 to 1975.

Artest won the award after working tirelessly to promote mental health awareness, a quest that first gained attention when he thanked his psychiatrist immediately after the Lakers won Game 7 of the NBA finals last June.

FIBA