NBA Rumors: Knicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy to Return to Sidelines?

A recurring enemy of the New York Knicks is reportedly trying to lure the former metropolitan boss and longtime ESPN analyst back to the hardwood.

The Dallas Mavericks have set their sights on a major name as an assistant coach. Can they stick it to the New York Knicks in the process? 

Per NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks “plan to gauge” Jeff Van Gundy's interest in joining the team as an assistant coach following the departure of Greg St. Jean. Dallas' first post-Jalen Brunson season ended in disaster as they not only missed the NBA postseason but apparently tried to flat-out avoid it to keep a top 10 pick away from New York. The current leadership group led by Jason Kidd has embarked on an extensive search that features several former head coaches to make up for the disappointing campaign. 

Van Gundy, 61, hasn't appeared on an NBA sideline since 2007, when he was coaching the Houston Rockets. To modern basketball fans, he is perhaps best known to modern basketball fans as one of the voices behind the biggest NBA games in recent memory, as he has been one of the lead analysts for ABC/ESPN's coverage since his departure from Houston. That includes the NBA Finals, a position he's set to resume when Game 3 between Denver and Miami tips off on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

In New York, however, Van Gundy continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Knicks fans, especially as the last coach to take the team to the NBA Finals (a five-game loss to San Antonio in 1999). Van Gundy ranks third in franchise history in coaching wins with 248 earned in his six-season term in Manhattan (1996-2002), behind only Red Holzman and Joe Lapchick.

Since departing for the booth, Van Gundy has lingered in NBA coaching conversations: a return to Houston was discussed in 2020 upon the departure of Mike D'Antoni but he lost that position to Stephen Silas. Van Gundy previously returned to the sidelines during Team USA's affairs at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup tournament (winning the gold over Argentina) before helping the team qualify for the 2019 World Cup.

Landing Van Gundy ... long removed from the day-to-day runnings of an NBA organization ... certainly wouldn't make up for losing Brunson. But the Mavericks likely won't leave any stone unturned when it comes to recovering from one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, especially with generational talent Luka Donćić still in tow.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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