A biography for Jeff Van Gundyhasn’t been written yet.
“Providence had a graduate assistant job opening. They asked me if I wanted to apply, and I applied. That break right there put me in position to learn from great coaches. It really jump-started every other good break I ever had in coaching.”
“Often, organizations don't know how good they have it with a player or coach.”
“The beauty of growing up in a coaching family, particularly one that isn't at the very highest level, is that you get to be in the gym - that's where you grow up.”
“Players and coaches alike, you sign up for 82 games. You get paid for 82.”
“Systems are overrated; players are underrated.”
“I broadcast games. I think there is a huge difference between print journalism and broadcasting. I don't have to say, 'sources close to LeBron James,' five times a game. I can just put my name to it. I say what I believe. It doesn't mean it's right. It's what I believe.”
“Detroit Pistons basketball slogan: When the going gets tough, we fire the coach.”
“As great of a player as Yao was, he was kind and patient with everybody. He wasn't trying to feed an image or cultivate a brand or manipulate a public persona.”
“Goaltending was brought in because of Mikan and Chamberlain. So rules do change for specific players, in concert with a need to stay up to date on how coaches are taking advantage of the rules.”
“I think the beautiful part about Yao is that his main legacy won't be about the game. His legacy will be about helping people. His legacy will be taking on important world causes to better his world.”
“The NBA is a crazy place.”
“There are franchise players to build around that have championship-level talent, skill, basketball IQ, and character - it's hard to find those guys. Those guys are rare.”
“Everyone's system in the NBA makes sense. It all comes down to the quality of player and the quality of execution.”
“I've had two owners - Jim Dolan and Les Alexander in Houston. Both were terrific. They wanted to win badly and gave you the resources to win.”
“Dwight Howard is a Hall of Fame player.”
“I grew up dreaming about being an Olympic basketball player: Doug Collins getting smashed into the stanchion, making two free throws. Phil Ford and Mike O'Koren in 1976.”
“Stop the nonsense about 'student-athlete.'”
“One of my college roommates was into The Police, and I got to like them. But I hear one of the guys left the band.”
“I enjoy watching Gregg Popovich-coached teams.”
“You don't know a player until you coach him.”