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ESPN decided to tweak its main NBA broadcast crew.
The network had plenty of casualties and layoffs, with Jeff Van Gundy being one of the most notorious.
The former coach had been there since 2007, and he was reportedly making more money than they wanted to pay him.
But more than that, it seems like they were never sure about his desire to stay there for the long run.
A report by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic revealed that the network was in constant fear that Van Gundy would go back to coaching.
One reason ESPN moved on from Jeff Van Gundy was the constant concern that he could return to coaching.
Doc Rivers and JJ Redick — two of Van Gundy’s replacements — are poised to do just that less than a year into the job.@AndrewMarchand from May https://t.co/0rhN7tFlEE pic.twitter.com/qvnQ1xKDsV
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 5, 2024
Ironically, Doc Rivers didn’t even last a full season on the job before getting a position with the Milwaukee Bucks, and it now seems like JJ Redick will follow him and become the next coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
A previous report also claimed that the NBA was resentful of Van Gundy’s constant criticism of referees, up to the point where they even reached out to ESPN to complain about that.
Van Gundy hasn’t been a feasible candidate for a coaching job in years now, but it’s hard to envision him turning down that chance if it came knocking, as he’s always been vocal and passionate about his love for the game and his coaching experience.
At the end of the day, Redick’s impending departure will most likely leave the network scrambling to find a replacement.
Whether Van Gundy will ever get another opportunity to be the main guy and lead a team from the bench remains to be seen.
The post Details Emerge About Why ESPN Moved On From Jeff Van Gundy appeared first on The Cold Wire.