Jeff Van Gundy thankful to Celtics for giving him a 'lifeline' after ESPN firing: "I was not in a great place"
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During his appearance on The Mark Jackson Show, Jeff Van Gundy expressed his love and appreciation to the Boston Celtics for saving him after his unexpected exit from ESPN and the rough personal battles he encountered throughout last summer.
"I got fired on June 30th, and then my youngest, Grayson, 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, and my best friend in Houston contracted cancer and subsequently died this spring," he revealed.
"And so for me, 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 was going to be with this new group of people where I didn't know anyone. And quite frankly, it's been one of the most rejuvenating things I've ever gone through," he added.
Thankful for the opportunity from Boston
Van Gundy was a notable figure that was subjected to ESPN's mass layoffs last year, which his older brother Stan perceives as a 'sh*t' move considering that the 62-year-old has dedicated himself to the company in the past 17 years. JVG and Jackson were the longtime analyst partners of renowned play-by-play commentator Mike Breen on the network's main crew, which broadcasted the league's nationally televised games for years.
Just days before the 2023-24 season began, the Celtics announced they hired JVG as a senior consultant in their basketball operations group led by Brad Stevens. This marked Van Gundy's return to the league after he saw his final year as a head coach for the Houston Rockets in the 2006-07 campaign.
"Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla threw me a lifeline, and everybody on that coaching staff has welcomed me with open arms," JVG confessed. "It's a very young coaching staff. Sam Cassell is the oldest. There's no one else other than Sam, that's over 40 years old. I have learned so much."
"I have been embraced and welcomed in. And the whole organization, from ownership to Brad's staff to the coaching staff, has just been remarkable. … After this summer, I was not in a great place, and I'll always and forever be appreciative of what the Celtics, Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla, and that coaching staff has done for me," he concluded.
A touching journey for JVG
JVG recovered from the harrowing events he endured last year. While he is enjoying his time in Boston as an executive, the Celtics certainly see Van Gundy as a huge reason for their success after he brought that rich experience and basketball knowledge to their table.
With the C's just one win away from clinching this year's championship, it would be great for JVG to win his first ring after his roller-coaster journey from the broadcasting booth and now back to the NBA. Given that Jeff has been one of the most beloved and respected figures around the league, it's safe to say everyone is rooting for him.