(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
It took him a while, but former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy is officially back in the league.
Van Gundy, who was let go by ESPN before the start of the season, was working as a consultant for Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics.
Now, he’s about to get back on the sidelines, even though not as the main guy.
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Van Gundy will join Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff to be one of his top assistants with the Los Angeles Clippers.
ESPN Sources: Jeff Van Gundy — who spent the season as senior consultant for the NBA champion Boston Celtics — has agreed on a deal to become the lead assistant on Ty Lue’s Los Angeles Clippers’ coaching staff. https://t.co/cUPKmRxuzh
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2024
The 62-year-old coach spent the previous 16 years as ESPN’s main NBA analyst.
Per Wojnarowski’s report, he built a strong relationship with Lue, and the Clippers’ fondness for him played a big part in their ability to lure him away from Boston.
The two coaches go all the way back to their days together with USA Basketball, and Van Gundy actually coached Lue for a year back in 2004 when they were with the Houston Rockets.
Van Gundy put together a 430-318 (.575) record with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.
He turned down multiple coaching opportunities in the league during his days as an analyst, but he continued to be a key contributor and served in different roles for USA Basketball.
It’s far from a surprise to see that a person so respected and beloved around the league, not to mention a great basketball mind, landed on his feet after being let go by ESPN.
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