After two seasons away from the courts, Stan Van Gundy could resume service. The former coach of Miami, Orlando and Detroit would be one of the favorites to land the job in New Orleans and if the planets were to line up for the Van Gundy family, we could even find the two brothers in the NBA next season. for the first time since the 2000s!
Since leaving the Pistons in 2018, we had lost track of Stan Van Gundy. TV consultant like his brother Jeff, the mustache would not have given up on coaching despite a last mixed experience in Detroit. At 61, one of the most famous mustaches on the NBA benches could discover his fourth franchise since he would be one of the finalists for the post of coach in New Orleans according to ESPN. If we had often heard the name of his brother in rumors around the League in recent weeks, it was much less the case with SVG. The Californian, however, has a solid CV. Landed in the NBA in 1995 as Pat Riley’s assistant in Miami, he took the reins of the team in 2003. With a very young D-Wade, he reached the semi-finals and then the Conf ‘Finals in his two first few seasons before Riley decides to take over. He then joined the Orlando neighbors in 2007 where he will remain five seasons. The most significant experience of his career, he qualified for the Playoffs each time and even reached the NBA Finals in 2009 with Dwight Howard. Less successful in Detroit between 2014 and 2018 where he will only have a first round of the Playoffs to chew, his career record remains solid: 57.7% wins in the regular season and 52.7% in the Playoffs.
If he got the job and Jeff did the same in Houston for example, we could find the two Van Gundy brothers at the same time on an NBA bench for the first time since the start of the 2005-06 season. Sacred flashback! The major obstacle for this return in time?… Tyronn Lue. Still not settled after more than two months of rumors, the assistant of the Clippers would also be one of the last candidates in the running in Houston and New Orleans. The Van Gundy family therefore have the opportunity to block the road to Ty Lue, already doubled by Steve Nash in Brooklyn, by Doc Rivers in Philly and on course to see Mike Brown steal the place which was promised to him at the Clippers. Ideal scenario for the many detractors of the former leader but put away this sadistic smile since he would be in pole position in Houston. For Stan Van Gundy, it would in any case be a great opportunity to find an interesting challenge and a promising roster. With Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, he would find some cool players to develop, he who coached Dwyane Wade in his first NBA seasons and who participated in the development of Dwight Howard and Andre Drummond, among others.
New name in the rumors and new candidate for the game of musical chairs on the NBA benches. The 2019-20 season is officially over, the Draft is fast approaching and the franchises concerned will have to make a decision quickly.
Text source: ESPN
