Even after incomes his first NBA Championship ring final week with the Celtics, Jeff Van Gundy continues to be mourning the punches ESPN threw his means after being let go following 16 years as their lead NBA analyst on account of cost-cutting measures.
“I believe everytime you get let go of a job, the sting is — and it’s occurred to me earlier than in teaching — the sting stays there,” Van Gundy instructed “The Lowe Put up” with ESPN’s Zach Lowe on Thursday.
“Whether or not you have got cash coming to you or not, I believe that sting and that lack of on a regular basis goal…When somebody says, ‘We’re higher off with out you than with you,’ there’s little question you’re taking a success.”
Previous to being fired from the community, Van Gundy turned down quite a few NBA teaching alternatives – together with one from Brad Stevens – to give attention to tv as a substitute.
Nevertheless in June 2023, Van Gundy obtained the gut-punching information from ESPN: He was left adrift.
It was a time in his life with what he described as “turbulent waters,” on account of private points at dwelling that added to the mess, akin to his son leaving for faculty and his sister-in-law tragically passing that summer time.
It led Van Gundy to reaching out to Stevens once more to see if there have been any lingering alternatives.
“I acquired let go by ESPN, and I re-visited it with Brad. And, he was nice. We had talked about every little thing about this consultancy place, from G-League to teaching, quite a lot of various things,” he mentioned.
“They didn’t want my assist or something like that, however I’m past grateful to have somebody assist me out like Brad and Joe [Mazzulla] did. And in addition give me actual work.”
Throughout his stint with the Celtics, Van Gundy mentioned he spent appreciable time with their G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.
He analyzed video games and checked out developmental plans whereas additionally offering unwavering help to a Celtics employees the place everybody besides Sam Cassell was underneath 40.
The Celtics helped Van Gundy get again on his ft, however now the web page turns once more, as he accepted a job because the lead assistant to educate Tyronn Lue’s Los Angeles Clippers employees.
The brand new place allowed him to reminisce about his yr as a Celtic.
“I favored all of them, I realized from all of them, and, man, I believe the yr I spent with the Celtics gave males such a significantly better probability for achievement now going to the Clippers than if I hadn’t taken that place this yr,” he mentioned.
