Even after earning his first NBA Championship ring last week with the Celtics, Jeff Van Gundy is still mourning the punches ESPN threw his way after being let go following 16 years as their lead NBA analyst due to cost-cutting measures.
“I think whenever you get let go of a job, the sting is — and it’s happened to me before in coaching — the sting stays there,” Van Gundy told “The Lowe Post” with ESPN’s Zach Lowe on Thursday.
“Whether you have money coming to you or not, I think that sting and that lack of everyday purpose…When someone says, ‘We’re better off without you than with you,’ there’s no doubt you take a hit.”
Prior to being fired from the network, Van Gundy turned down numerous NBA coaching opportunities – including one from Brad Stevens – to focus on television instead.
However in June 2023, Van Gundy received the gut-punching news from ESPN: He was left adrift.
It was a time in his life with what he described as “turbulent waters,” due to personal issues at home that added to the mess, such as his son leaving for college and his sister-in-law tragically passing that summer.
It led Van Gundy to reaching out to Stevens again to see if there were any lingering opportunities.
“I got let go by ESPN, and I re-visited it with Brad. And, he was great. We had talked about everything about this consultancy position, from G-League to coaching, a lot of different things,” he said.
“They didn’t need my help or anything like that, but I’m beyond grateful to have someone help me out like Brad and Joe [Mazzulla] did. And also give me real work.”
During his stint with the Celtics, Van Gundy said he spent considerable time with their G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.
He analyzed games and looked at developmental plans while also providing unwavering support to a Celtics staff where everyone except Sam Cassell was under 40.Â
The Celtics helped Van Gundy get back on his feet, but now the page turns again, as he accepted a job as the lead assistant to coach Tyronn Lue’s Los Angeles Clippers staff.
The new position allowed him to reminisce about his year as a Celtic.
“I liked them all, I learned from all of them, and, man, I think the year I spent with the Celtics gave men such a much better chance for success now going to the Clippers than if I hadn’t taken that position this year,” he said.
