NBA News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

May 20, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; ESPN analyst Mark Jackson (left), commentator Jeff Van Gundy (center) and play-by-play announcer Mike Breen during game three of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

'The NBA Was Not A Fan Of Van Gundy Criticizing Officials': Jeff Van Gundy And Mark Jackson’s Abrupt ESPN Firing Exposed By NBA Insider

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 10:16 AM ET

Former NBA coach and former ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy has been fired from his broadcasting position from his previous network for more than two years now, but fresh information has shed light on what could have transpired behind the scenes back then.

In a new article by The Athletic , anonymous sources have revealed that the NBA was not a big fan of Jeff Van Gundy consistently throwing criticism towards the game officiating whenever he is on mic.

“ESPN’s finals crew has been in flux for years since it fired Breen’s longtime analysts, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, in the summer of 2023,” the article reported. “ESPN had company-wide layoffs, and part of the network’s reasoning for singling out Van Gundy and Jackson was because of their perceived continued desire to coach, according to sources briefed on the move.”

The fresh information from the firing of Van Gundy came in light of the news that ESPN has removed Hall of Famer Doris Burke from its No. 1 NBA broadcast team, ending her two-year run as the lead analyst for the NBA Finals. The news broke only a year after Burke made history as the first woman to call for the NBA Finals on TV.

Some fans have drawn parallels between Burke’s reassignment and ESPN’s 2023 dismissal of Jeff Van Gundy, noting that both analysts had been outspoken in their criticism of NBA officiating. In both cases, the moves have fueled debate over whether ESPN is prioritizing league relationships over retaining its most candid voices, sparking concern among viewers who value unfiltered analysis during marquee broadcasts.

Who is Jeff Van Gundy?

After beginning his career as an assistant in the NBA developing his craft in the mid-1980s, Jeff Van Gundy started his coaching journey at the high school level and of course moved that to the NBA sidelines at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, New York, had some time as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Providence College who took the Friars to the Final Four in 1987.

Apr 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

As a head coach in New York, Van Gundy built a reputation for toughness defensively and resilience in the playoffs. The historic run in 1999, where he took an 8-seed group of players into the NBA Finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Van Gundy returned to coaching in 2003 with the Houston Rockets till his departure in 2007, coaching in many playoffs but did not make it back to the finals.

Known for his meticulous preparation and no-nonsense approach, Jeff Van Gundy earned respect across the league for maximizing his rosters’ potential.

Nov 27, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; LA Clippers lead assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy calls a play during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: