Mavericks Interested in Hiring Jeff Van Gundy As Assistant, per Report

Could the ESPN analyst be returning to an NBA sideline in Dallas?

The Mavericks plan to pursue ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy for an assistant coaching position on Jason Kidd’s staff, according to a report from Marc Stein.

“I’m also told that [the Mavericks] plan to gauge Jeff Van Gundy’s interest in a potential return to the bench as an aide to Kidd after 15-plus years in broadcasting,” Stein wrote. 

Van Gundy has been a part of ESPN’s NBA broadcasts since his firing from the Rockets in 2007. 

The 61-year-old Van Gundy coached 11 seasons in the NBA with the Knicks and the Rockets, going 430–318 as a head coach, which included a Finals appearance with New York in the 1998–99 season. More recently, Van Gundy was named coach of Team USA at the FIBA AmeriCup and coached the U.S. to qualification at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Van Gundy interviewed with the Rockets before the 2020 basketball season, paving the path for a potential reunion in Houston. However, the Rockets ultimately hired Stephen Silas as coach instead.