Stan Van Gundy has some laborious emotions towards ESPN over the best way that his brother, former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, was laid off final 12 months.
Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson had been stalwart colour commentators alongside venerable play-by-play broadcaster Mike Breen for a few years at ESPN earlier than Van Gundy was let go in a large spherical of layoffs final 12 months and Jackson was proven the door shortly thereafter.
Stan, a former ESPN broadcaster who now works for TNT, joined Dan Le Batard’s “South Seaside Classes” podcast and blasted the Worldwide Chief for a way issues went down.
on the best way out the door. Getty Photos
“He was damage by it, I imply he labored for them for 17 years. And it wasn’t even simply the truth that they made the transfer, I imply they s–t on him,” he stated, as coated by Terrible Saying.
Jeff Van Gundy had years left on his deal and based on his brother, was not in a position to expediently receive a buyout to have the ability to work elsewhere.
“The timing was terrible. They waited till principally the NBA market by way of teaching jobs, assistant jobs, entrance workplace jobs was already passed by to make the transfer. After which they delayed and delayed and delayed on a buyout that might free him to work for [other] folks,” Stan continued.
“I imply after 17 years of being in arguably … the most effective recreation broadcast sales space within the enterprise in basketball, and being the sort of individual he’s, ESPN s–t on him.”
There have been rumors that the NBA ordered a “code crimson” on Jeff, which Commissioner Adam Silver has denied.
Stan tried to make clear that it wasn’t the layoff, per se, that he took subject with on behalf of his brother, however the best way that he was handled.
“These items occurs within the enterprise, we’ve all been by it,” Stan added. “We’ve been fired and the whole lot else, however there’s methods to do it and methods to not do it. … I assumed ESPN was completely depressing to him after what he had given them for 17 years.”
Le Batard didn’t assume Jeff can be thrilled about Stan airing this laundry, to which Stan agreed.
“My brother wouldn’t be completely satisfied if I used to be saying this, but it surely’s what occurred and that’s what I’m going to say,” he stated. “And you realize what, I don’t assume anyone who is aware of the scenario would disagree with me in any respect.”
Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy have been changed by Doc Rivers and Doris Burke on ESPN’s prime NBA workforce, after which JJ Redick succeeded Rivers when the latter took the Bucks’ head teaching job midseason.
