When former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy was fired by ESPN in June 2023 after 16 years with the network, it was unclear what would be next for the 61-year-old.
Van Gundy, who was going through a lot in his personal life at the time, wound up being hired by the Boston Celtics as a senior consultant shortly before the start of the NBA season.
This week, Van Gundy appeared on the Mark Jackson Show, the podcast hosted by Van Gundy’s former broadcast partner Mark Jackson and his son Mark Jr. The ex-coach and commentator first explained his life after being fired and then how the Celtics job came to fruition.
“I got fired from ESPN on June 30, and then my youngest son went to school in August so we became empty nesters. Then my sister-in-law tragically passed away in the middle of August as well. Then, my best friend in Houston contracted cancer, and he died this spring,” Van Gundy said.
While he first had reservations about how things would go with the Celtics, Van Gundy couldn’t be happier with the experience.
“When I went to work for the Celtics after the FIBA World Cup last fall, I only knew Brad Stevens a little bit. I was really in an awkward place in life, not really knowing where I was going or what my purpose was, or how I’d be with this new group of people where I didn’t know anyone. It’s been one of the most rejuvenating things I’ve ever gone through. Brad Stevens and Joe Mazulla threw me a lifeline,” he added.
Despite nearly 20 years as an assistant or head coach with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, an NBA Championship has eluded Van Gundy. Boston currently holds a 3-1 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks and will look to close the series out on Monday night.
