NBA chief Adam Silver DENIES the league had a hand in ESPN layoffs after accusations he was behind decision to remove Jeff Van Gundy
- Jeff Van Gundy spent 16 years at ESPN and called basketball the biggest games
- But in July it emerged that the analyst was among those who left the company
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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has denied that he or the NBA played a role in the recent firings at ESPN following allegations that he was behind the controversial departure of Jeff Van Gundy.
Van Gundy, 61, is a former head coach of the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He spent 16 years at ESPN and built a reputation for his blunt and sometimes controversial opinions.
He was part of a popular broadcast team alongside Mike Breen and Mark Jackson. But in July, it was confirmed that Van Gundy was among those fired by ESPN.
The decision led to suggestions – particularly by Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo – that Silver had ordered ESPN to release the veteran analyst.
The NBA chief made these accusations during a appearance on JJ Redick’s ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcast on Wednesday.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has denied that he or the NBA were involved in the ESPN firings
Veteran NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy was among those fired by broadcaster ESPN
“Despite what has been written about some talent changes at ESPN, the league has no say in that,” he said via the After.
‘What we do have a say in is the program itself. There’s a back-and-forth between the networks and the league office about scheduling, determining which teams should get the most out of the league… often the pressure from the league is, “Let’s get more teams to stake.”
He added, “We have very little influence over the ancillary programming, and you can talk about that because, you know, now that you’re a part of that, I’ve never called you and said I can’t believe you’re talking. about this or that.’
In July, Russo said he couldn’t “fathom” the decision to lose Van Gundy.
“You’re not going to convince me that ESPN woke up in the last two weeks, looked at the budget and said, ‘We have to fire Van Gundy because we have to save some money,’” he said.
“Silver is the one who fired Van Gundy. Silver told ESPN, ‘I want him out.'” Chris Russo said
“ESPN will never admit it. They’ll say it’s our decision. Nonsense. Why would they get rid of a great team? That team is a great team… you’re not going to convince me that that team that everyone loves. Nobody doesn’t like that team.”
Mad Dog added, “That leads me to conclude that someone in the league office must have told ESPN, ‘I want Van Gundy out…’
‘We all know he bites. We all know he is harassing the officials. We all know he doesn’t hold back with his NBA views.
“So if you ask me, little talk show host who may not know anything, this is just my opinion: Silver is the one who fired Van Gundy. Silver told ESPN: “I want him out.”