New York Knicks: Jeff Van Gundy open to coaching in ‘right spot at right time’
Jeff Van Gundy sat down with former New York Knicks point guard Charlie Ward to discuss his interest in coaching again.
Jeff Van Gundy is open to coaching again, the question is whether Madison Square Garden represents the right fit for the former New York Knicks coach.
In an interview with his former player Charlie Ward on Tuesday, Van Gundy indicated he is open to coaching again, but it needs to be the right spot. After talking about the importance of the owner, front office, and coaching staff being on the same page in order to make a team successful, the coach known for his outstanding work ethic said he has explored different opportunities during his broadcast career, but hasn’t found the right match.
"“[ESPN] has allowed me to explore jobs that I had an interest in,” Van Gundy said during an Instagram Live chat with Ward. “Some jobs in this 12 years that I’ve been out, I’ve gotten offered jobs that I didn’t think was the right fit. Other jobs I pursued that I thought would be the right fit for me, but the teams didn’t.”"
Van Gundy told the former Knicks point guard, Ward, that he is open to coaching again, but wouldn’t lose sleep if the right opportunity never arises.
"“I’m definitely open to coaching in the right spot at the right time,” Van Gundy said. “But it’s not this thing where I feel like I have a void in my life if it doesn’t happen. These jobs are hard to get. Even harder to keep. I was able to be a head coach for 10.5 or 11 years, coached in the NBA for 18 years. The NBA has been great to me.”"
During his seven seasons as Knicks bench chief between 1996-2001, Van Gundy was 248-172, a .590 winning percentage that seems impossible to imagine these days, as New York searches for their seventh coach in seven years. Van Gundy was on the bench as either an assistant or leading man for most of the Knicks’ battles with Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the playoffs.
Asked if he has been watching ESPN’s documentary about Jordan, Van Gundy was quick to say no.
"“Heck to the no … I ain’t watching that. I lived it. I don’t have to watch it”"
Currently a broadcaster for ESPN/ABC NBA telecasts, Van Gundy has been mentioned as a coaching candidate for the Knicks under new president Leon Rose. His name has also been linked to the Houston Rockets, another team where he used to coach before joining the broadcast booth.
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He hasn’t been on an NBA bench since 2007, but he recently took on a role with USA basketball to keep his coaching skills sharp.