The bellowing, the cursing and the constipated looks that often follow a blown defensive assignment will return when former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau returns to the United Center for the first time as an opposing head coach when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit Chicago on Tuesday.

The last time Thibodeau was at the United Center coaching an NBA game, his era ended with a lifeless loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals — almost fitting, considering Thibodeau squeezed every bit of life there was to be had until the team flatlined on a Thursday night in May.

A tumultuous and mildly successful five-year stretch was accompanied with drama, drama and more drama as ultimately Thibodeau left Chicago with many wondering “what if”, as in what would’ve happened had Derrick Rose’s body not given up on him?

Or what if he and Bulls management had not been so much at odds during their time together, leading to his controversial firing?

“For me it was easy to block out because at times it didn’t mostly involve me,” Bulls forward Taj Gibson said to CSNChicago.com about the coach-management acrimony that often existed. “I was the guy who was mostly neutral with whomever it was going on with. If it was Thibs I was always that one guy, I was neutral, I was cool with everybody.”

Gibson didn’t deny the back and forth wore on him and the rest of the players because it often took the focus away from the task of winning basketball games, but he said Thibodeau appreciated his neutrality.

“At times, yeah it’s hard. But I was tough minded and yeah, Thibs knew,” Gibson said. “I was always that one guy. Thibs always yelled because he knew I could respond well. I had a great time playing for him.”

Either way, it’s likely he’ll receive a hero’s welcome from a Bulls fan base that adores Thibodeau for his no-nonsense style and ability to coax wins out of undermanned Bulls teams during the last four years of his tenure.

“Of course he should,” said Gibson on the subject of whether Thibodeau should get a standing ovation Tuesday night. “All the stuff that went on with the team, the injuries, a couple great years, the Eastern Conference Finals, a bunch of winning seasons…why not?”

During the Thiboeau era, only the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder — and whatever team LeBron James played on — had a better record than the Bulls from 2010 to 2015.

The Bulls were the only franchise out of the four not to advance to the NBA Finals, as James or other circumstances usually stood in the Bulls’ way. Gibson said there isn’t a day that goes by where he doesn’t recall something about that era, with that coach and that group of teammates.

“Every day,” Gibson said. “It builds character, made me a better person and better player.”

Gibson, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott are the only Bulls who remain from Thibodeau’s time, although Mirotic and McDermott only played one season for Thibodeau.

Being replaced by perhaps his greatest opposite in terms of approach and personality, current coach Fred Hoiberg, almost seemed to enhance Thibodeau’s cult-like following with Bulls fans as the team underachieved and missed the playoffs last season.

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The arguments were many, and solutions were few. Some argued Thibodeau would sell his soul for one win, big picture be damned. Some argued the Bulls didn't surround Thibodeau with the requisite talent of their competitors, citing a couple draft mishaps and controversial disagreements.

It's still a polarizing topic, with very few observers able to find a middle ground — and it's unlikely that will change in the near future. Members of Bulls management and Thibodeau were around each other at the draft combine last May, making for some awkward moments and depending on whom you ask, the two were engaged in trade talks on draft night centered around the future of Butler.

So with all that as a backdrop, neither Gibson nor Butler would be delusional enough to say Tuesday will be one of 82.

Gibson said, “It’s gonna feel weird. Gonna be very weird. But at the end of the day we gotta get a win. Gotta get a win.”

Butler developed into an All-Star under Thibodeau, and the two spent plenty of time together as part of the gold medal-winning USA Basketball squad, where Butler saw another side of the gruff coach last summer — one who allowed jokes and dished them out as quick as he took them.

“I would say it’s another game but everybody knows how I feel about Thibs,” said Butler after the Bulls’ narrow win over the Miami Heat Saturday night. “I respect the (bleep) out of the guy, and what he’s trying to do over there.”

Certainly Butler’s insatiable hunger to get better and to be recognized played a part in his development but he admits Thibodeau’s unrelenting nature gave him the push he needed to go from a late first-rounder who didn’t play to the top-10 player who’s entered early MVP conversation.

“It was critical, I’m not gonna lie,” Butler said. “Between him and Buzz (Williams, Butler’s college coach at Marquette) they both did that. They both made me continue to work. Not giving me anything, making me earn every minute, every second I was on the floor.”

“I got better from it. The numbers speaks for themselves. I’m very grateful he coached me for my first four years and the relationship we still have that we built upon over the summer, that will forever be my guy. We went through the trenches together, along with my former teammates. I got love and respect for everybody.”

Butler’s play improved from becoming a rotation player to a productive one to an All-Star in Thibodeau’s final season, not dissimilar from Thibodeau’s task in Minneapolis.

What Thibodeau is trying to do is build a Timberwolves team from the ground up after assuming the team president title along with becoming the head coach this summer, inheriting perhaps the best collection of young talent in the NBA.

In center Karl-Anthony Towns and swingman Andrew Wiggins, it was probably the most coveted coaching and executive opening in the NBA last summer — and Thibodeau got the rare coach-president combo meal.

A 6-18 record hasn’t been expected as the Timberwolves have lost numerous leads in the second half and have gone through general growing pains with a young roster. But just as the Bulls will want to continue their winning ways, they know Thibodeau wants nothing more than to walk off the United Center floor a winner — and Butler for one, still has a little to prove.

“I spent some time with him over the summer with USA basketball,” Butler said. “I’m glad I got a chance to compete against the guy. He was here for the beginning stages of my career, I’ve gotten better since then and I wanna show him what I’m capable of.”