ESPN is cutting ties with analyst Jeff Van Gundy, who has teamed with Mike Breen and Mark Jackson to form the network’s top NBA broadcast trio for more than a decade.
Van Gundy was among the network’s latest round of layoffs and news of his dismissal was first reported by Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.
Van Gundy, 61, is a former head coach of the Rockets and Knicks, and has been with ESPN for 16 years. He has been considered for coaching vacancies seemingly every season that he’s been on the air.
Per Marchand, Van Gundy had been an analyst on ESPN/ABC for close to 100 Finals games.
ESPN is expected to replace Van Gundy, per Marchand, with former NBA shooting guard J.J. Redick and ex-NBA forward Richard Jefferson expected to be among those considered.
As Hoops Wire relayed back in April, ESPN layoffs were expected to hit in rounds of three, with this presumably being the third and final round. Some notable NBA broadcasters and writers were expected to be among those who lost their jobs, we reported in the spring.
“In order to identify additional cost savings, ESPN determined it necessary to turn the cost management focus to public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun,” read a memo obtained by Ben Strauss of The Washington Post. “This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead.”
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