Jeff Van Gundy’s nightmare year went well beyond ESPN firing
NY Post
The Boston Celtics were Jeff Van Gundy’s lifeline.
Van Gundy detailed what has been a very painful time in his life after he was fired by ESPN following 16 years as the network’s top NBA game analyst.
The former Knicks coach, who was added to the Celtics staff in October, was dealing with personal tragedies on top of losing his job.
“I got fired from ESPN on June 30, and then my youngest son went to school in August so we became empty nesters,” Van Gundy said on “The Mark Jackson Show” with his former broadcast partner Mark Jackson and son Mark Jackson Jr.
“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.”
Jeff’s brother, Stan, recently revealed that his wife committed suicide in August.
Every one of his 23 catches is preserved in his stat log. The same with his 271 receiving yards and his three touchdowns. His 37 targets reflect that he is not one of the focal points — he is the focal point. The leaps into the air to snare the ball and quick pivots and spins to wriggle past defenders are newly minted memories for fans who went from wait-and-see to here-and-now when it comes to anointing this youngster as legit.