Jeff Van Gundy says Boston Celtics ‘threw me a lifeline’ as former NBA coach talks about post-ESPN firing horror

Former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy said he will always be grateful to the Boston Celtics for hiring him following his abrupt departure from ESPN last summer.

The Celtics senior consultant was let go alongside fellow color analyst Mark Jackson after both were part of the NBA broadcast A-team along with Mike Breen for more than a decade.

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Van Gundy, 62, spoke about his firing on a recent episode of Jackson’s YouTube Show.

And he said ESPN’s decision to part ways left him in a bad spot.

“I was fired [from ESPN] on June 30,” said the former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets coach.

“And then my youngest [son] Grayson went to school in August, so we became empty nesters.

“Then my sister-in-law also tragically passed away in mid-August.

“And my best friend in Houston contracted cancer and subsequently died this spring.”

Van Gundy said he had doubts about joining the Celtics.

But the move to Boston turned out to be a blessing.

“When I went to work for the Celtics after [FIBA] At the World Cup last fall, I only knew Brad Stevens a little bit,” Van Gundy said.

“I was really in a weird place in life, not knowing where I was going or what my purpose was, or how I was going to be with this new group of people where I didn’t know anyone.

“Frankly, it was one of the most rejuvenating things I’ve ever experienced.

“Brad Stevens and Joe Mazulla gave me a lifeline. Everyone on the coaching staff welcomed me with open arms.”

Last month, Van Gundy’s brother Stan criticized ESPN for its treatment of his brother.

“He was hurt by it, I mean he worked for them for 17 years,” the TNT gaming analyst said.

“And it wasn’t just the fact that they made the change, I mean, they attacked him.

“The timing was horrible. They waited until basically the NBA market in terms of coaching, assistant and front office jobs was gone to make the change.

“And then they delayed and delayed and delayed an acquisition that would free him to work for [other] people.

“I mean, after 17 years of arguably… the best game broadcast booth in the basketball business, and being the kind of person he is, ESPN gives him shit.”

Stan Van Gundy told The US Sun that he thought Jeff was one of the best game analysts in the business.

“He did it for 17 years — and he was the best,” Stan previously said during the 2024 playoffs.

“I thought he and Mark Jackson were fantastic.”