NBA Notes: Bulls fire coach Tom Thibodeau after 5 seasons

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls fired Tom Thibodeau on Thursday, saying a change was needed from the strong-willed coach who took his team to the playoffs in each of his five seasons.

Thibodeau went 255-139 with the Bulls, a .647 winning percentage that ranks seventh in NBA history among coaches with at least 200 games. He led the Bulls to the top seed in the playoffs his first two seasons and was the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2011 -- the same year Derrick Rose became the league's youngest MVP.

Chicago advanced to the Eastern Conference finals that season, but it's the only time the Bulls have made it past the second round under Thibodeau, whose relationship with the front office was under constant scrutiny. Now, he is gone even though he had two years left on his contract. Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg is widely viewed as the front-runner to replace him (see full story).

Warriors: Klay Thompson suffers concussion
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State guard Klay Thompson has a concussion after getting kneed in the side of the head by Houston's Trevor Ariza.

Thompson was injured after he faked a shot and Ariza knocked him to the floor with a knee to the head in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals Wednesday night.

Thompson received stitches in his right ear and passed a concussion test during the game that would have allowed him to return. The Warriors did not need him as they won the game 104-90 to clinch the series.

The Warriors said Thompson developed concussion symptoms after the game and will be evaluated by the medical staff. Thompson must pass the concussion protocol before he can return to play.

The NBA Finals start June 4.

Bucks: Walker supports keys to reported arena deal
PORTAGE, Wis. -- Gov. Scott Walker spoke in favor Thursday of key elements of a reported deal fora new $500 million arena for the Milwaukee Bucks that includes raising taxes on Milwaukee County hotel rooms and rental cars.

Walker's support for central parts of the plan came as conservatives, including the influential group Americans for Prosperity, blasted the latest funding proposal as irresponsible and harmful to taxpayers.

Terms of the deal have yet to be made public. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that the most recent proposal would include $250 million from taxpayers, with another $150 million coming from Bucks owners and $100 million from former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, a previous Bucks owner (see full story).

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