OT: Stan Van Gundy Interview

[ComboGuardCity]

Didn’t realize SVG’s wife died from suicide. A very deep interview. Mental illness is very real and I hope anyone is struggling has the support they need.

Also mentions how the pistons fired him in a professional and amicable way.

https://youtu.be/4ZykQdeUZYg?si=z5tD2P9zmj_U93G0

[MotownMadness]

That's terrible

[theBigLip]

Heard about this. Terrible for everyone.

[gusman]

Between listening to this and hearing about Grayson Murray in the past two days just a lot to take in.

[Snakebites]

Wow. Thats absolutely heart wrenching. They were married for over 30 years- I can’t even imagine.

SVG had a grating personality on the court but I always got the impression he was a totally decent guy off the court.

[bstein14]

Brutal situation for Stan for sure... sounds like he's had it really tough and I honestly couldn't even imagine having to both go through something like that and then just trying to continue on after something like that. I've always thought he was solid in his role here both as a coach and a GM but it really came down to four things.

#1. Not being bad enough to get top tier talent and not being good enough to win in the playoffs. Stuck in the middle.
#2. Missing out on the later lottery top tier talent twice in not drafting Booker or D Mitchell. If he hits one of those guys it changes everything here.
#3. Not getting assets out of RFAs like Monroe and KCP and just letting those starters walk for nothing.
#4. Going all-in on Drummond as our team leader and MAX contract player, when Drummond didn't have the drive/mentality/mindset for that type of role on a team

That said, we're in a 15+ year stretch where the SVG years were the best years we've had because the end of the Joe D years and all of the Weaver years were brutal.

It sounds like SVG has really done some reflection and some of the things mentioned... wanting to find more joy in the day to day things and perhaps not letting the small stuff bother you as much really something that can help most of us.

It's good to hear from SVG that Gores letting him go was done better/different than the other 3 and that he still has a lot of respect for the way Gores handled everything on his end.

[MortSahlfan]

I've been meaning to watch it, but it hits a bit too close. Jeff was my favorite on TV, and now Stan is the best. Always liked rebels, in any form. SVG does seem like a very good man, and I hope the best for him.

[JerseyJungle]

Man, he really opened up.
I didn't like him before the interview.
Hard not to like the man now. My heart goes out to him, losing his wife in the most tragic way.
Thx for sharing.