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Knicks Rumors: NYK contacts Jeff Van Gundy about coaching vacancy

By Maxwell Ogden

PLAYA VISTA, CA - FEBRUARY 20: Jeff Van Gundy coaches the players during practice on February 20, 2018 at the LA Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA - FEBRUARY 20: Jeff Van Gundy coaches the players during practice on February 20, 2018 at the LA Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jeff Van Gundy is one of the most popular coaches in New York Knicks history. The current front office would like to right past wrongs.

From 1989 to 2001, Jeff Van Gundy lived and breathed New York Knicks basketball. Surviving four different coaching changes before taking over the lead job himself, Van Gundy developed into one of the most revered coaches in franchise history.

17 years after Van Gundy’s tenure with the Knicks came to an unceremonious end, the front office is reportedly attempting to mend fences.

For those unfamiliar, Van Gundy resigned just 19 games into the 2001-02 regular season. Despite the justifiable reasons for his dismay with the organization, he’s stated that he regrets quitting on the Knicks—a truth that may be responsible for the fuel to the current fire.

According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, the Knicks have reached out to Van Gundy about the current vacancy at head coach.

"The Knicks have contacted the representatives of both Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, the Daily News has learned."

Per Bondy, it isn’t yet believed that the Knicks have set up an official interview with Van Gundy.

"It is not believed that the Knicks have set up interviews with either Van Gundy or Jackson, who were in Oakland on Saturday working the Warriors-Spurs playoff game for ABC."

With Van Gundy expressing a desire to get back into coaching, it appears as though New York is interested in at least exploring the possibility of a long-awaited reunion.

Van Gundy was an assistant coach under Stu Jackson, John MacLeod, Pat Riley, and Don Nelson. He overcame the constant turnover to survive as an assistant and eventually earn a promotion to head coach of the Knicks in 1996.

Over the course of his five years at the helm, Van Gundy led the Knicks to a record of 248-172 in the regular season—good for a win percentage of .590.

It was during the postseason that Van Gundy truly made his name, however, as he led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals and the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s worth noting that Van Gundy, 56, returned to coaching in 2017 when he took over as head coach of Team USA for the FIBA AmeriCup tournament. Despite featuring a roster that only devout college basketball fans would recognize, Team USA won the gold medal at the event.

It’s also worth noting that Van Gundy led the Houston Rockets to a pair of 50-win seasons following his departure from the Knicks.

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Throw in the fact that the New York Knicks have finished above .500 just three times since Jeff Van Gundy’s resignation and it’s clear why the organization is interested in bringing him back.

Van Gundy is one of the greatest coaches in franchise history. At some point in the near future, he could be back at The Mecca.

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