Jeff Van Gundy, who hasn’t been an NBA head coach in nearly 20 years, is on one team’s radar to take over the top coaching job.
Van Gundy, 64, is being sought for the Orlando Magic’s vacant job. According to a report released Tuesday from The Stein Line.
Billy Donovan is also being considered for the position, which was vacant after Orlando fired Jamaal Mosley on May 4 after the Magic fell to the Pistons 4-3 — outscored 3-1 — in a first-round playoff series. Mosley was hired by the Pelicans on Monday.
Van Gundy, who coached the Knicks from 1995 to 2002 and led them to the NBA Finals in the 1998-99 season, has a career record of 430-318 during his 10 seasons as head coach with New York and the Houston Rockets.
Before becoming the Knicks’ coach, Van Gundy was the team’s assistant coach for nearly seven seasons, several of them under Pat Riley.
After becoming one of the top NBA television analysts for ESPN, Van Gundy returned to the sidelines as the Clippers’ head coach the past two seasons under Tyronn Lue.
He made headlines earlier this season for confronting star Chris Paul on the Clippers’ team plane over a changed coaching assignment before the point guard exited the franchise.
Spurs top assistant Sean Sweeney is also expected to interview for the Orlando opening, as well as the Bulls’ vacant position.
According to the Stein Line, former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is “not involved” in the process at this point.