Jeff Van Gundy targeted by Wizards for return to coaching

Recently fired ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy may not be out of work for long. Van Gundy has been exploring returning to an NBA bench as an assistant coach.

There is mutual interest between Jeff Van Gundy and the Washington Wizards for Van Gundy to be an assistant on Wes Unseld’s staff, per Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

Van Gundy joined ESPN in 2017. He primarily worked alongside play-by-play Mike Breen and fellow analyst Mark Jackson. The trio called 15 NBA Finals together. However, Van Gundy recently got let go by ESPN as a cost-cutting casualty.

Van Gundy had drawn interest from the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics. But both teams went in other directions filling out their coaching staff.

Most NBA teams have filled out their coaching staff. The Wizards, however, have had several assistants depart the organization. That includes Pat Delany leaving to join the Toronto Raptors and G-League affiliate, the capital City Go-Go, head coach Mike Williams leaving for the Utah Jazz.

Van Gundy would add experience for Unseld Jr., who will enter his third year as a head coach. After being a longtime assistant for the Knicks, Van Gundy got promoted to head coach in 1996. He guided the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals.

Following his departure in 2001, Van Gundy became the Houston Rockets’ head coach from 2003-2007.

Van Gundy has not minced words as an analyst. His coaching expertise and blunt approach may be what a young Wizards’ locker room needs.