Van Gundy has been one of the best assistants in the NBA over the past two seasons.
The NBA's coaching carousel has been spinning fast this offseason, and for a few weeks it looked like the Los Angeles Clippers were about to lose one of their most important voices.
Lead assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy was a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers' head coaching vacancy and also interviewed for the open position in Orlando, drawing serious interest from two franchises looking for experienced leadership.
Van Gundy's Name Drops Off in Portland
Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that Van Gundy did not advance past the finalist stage in Portland's search, writing that "the other finalists who, according to sources, did not advance" included the Clippers' Van Gundy and Utah's Mike Williams.
That left Micah Nori, Tyler Lashbrook, and acting coach Tiago Splitter as the final candidates.
The Orlando vacancy went to Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, removing that path as well.
Stein also reported that Van Gundy is believed to earn around $3 million per year as an assistant, a figure Portland's owner Thomas Dundon may not have been willing to match.
That financial reality works in the Clippers' favor and makes the chance of Van Gundy returning to Los Angeles much stronger heading into next season.
What He Has Meant to This Team
Van Gundy joined Ty Lue's staff as lead assistant and defensive coordinator ahead of the 2024-25 season after spending 16 years as a broadcaster at ESPN.
He also served as a senior consultant with the Boston Celtics during their 2024 championship run, and the defensive impact he brought to the Clippers was felt right away.
In his first season, Ivica Zubac became the only player in the NBA to grab at least 1,000 rebounds while the team climbed to one of the league's best defensive units.
This past season was tougher.
The Clippers started 6-21 and appeared finished, but Van Gundy's defensive coaching helped fuel a turnaround that brought them to a 42-40 finish and the ninth seed in the West before a 126-121 play-in loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Kawhi Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals while earning All-NBA Second Team honors.
The Praise Has Been Evident
The people inside the building have not been quiet about what Van Gundy brings.
James Harden said Van Gundy is "on us everyday about being perfect defensively, cause that's like the chance that we have."
Nic Batum said his "whole thing is we have to be aggressive and anticipate everything."
Kris Dunn was more blunt, saying "he's always either cussing us out or cussing at the other team."
Even Lue himself once joked about how personal Van Gundy takes defensive struggles, saying "he might not go home at night. I gotta check on him."
With the Clippers holding the No. 5 pick in the draft and real questions about Leonard's future at 34, keeping Van Gundy on Lue's coaching staff might be the most important move Los Angeles makes all summer.
