The latest wave of expertise layoffs at ESPN have claimed a shocking name: beloved NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy.
Andrew Marchand of the New York Submit documented Friday that Van Gundy, who has been with ESPN due to the fact 2007, was amid those the business is laying off as element of expense-saving measures. Van Gundy afterwards confirmed he was component of the layoffs to The Athletic. Marchand documented the total variety of on-air layoffs anticipated Friday is all over 20 full staff members. The go breaks up the longtime NBA Finals broadcast group that also characteristics Mike Breen and Mark Jackson.
Here’s confirmation of the Van Gundy information:
I achieved out to Van Gundy following Andrew's newsbreak.
The report is correct. He's declining comment for now.
Van Gundy experienced time left on his contract. It's a awful determination IMO provided he's become one particular of the necessary NBA recreation analysts in background. https://t.co/UaP4ZJWGuT
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) June 30, 2023
It also arrived as a major surprise to NBA followers, who’ve fallen in enjoy with the Breen/Van Gundy/Jackson trio above the many years. Lovers on social media chimed in with their disappointment and appreciation for Van Gundy’s operate on the microphone above the years, in specific his willingness to call out referees immediately after lousy phone calls.
This is heartbreaking.
Breen with Jackson and Van Gundy was my summer starter for like more than a ten years. What will we do future =( https://t.co/lWCngpLTJX— Oasis MMAov (@OasisMma) June 30, 2023
I turn into a smarter basketball supporter when I pay attention to Jeff Van Gundy split down the game. He tells it like it is and supplies a unique voice on the broadcast. ESPN is earning a large mistake in this article. https://t.co/dAKklW8Fnc
— Andrew Chelney🍊 (@ChelneyAndrew) June 30, 2023
What?!?!? Massive oversight below. Van Gundy is great. Hope TNT snatches him up promptly. https://t.co/xiGW2q1dwr
— Mike Barner (@rotomikebarner) June 30, 2023
WHAT!!! Visualize parting strategies w just one of the most effective analysts in sports… 🤦♂️ https://t.co/wrx0XLDhq3
— John Jastremski (@john_jastremski) June 30, 2023
Not a admirer of this improve. JVG is a curmudgeon on the broadcasts, but a loveable a person. And he's 1 of the ideal analysts of what's going on in actual time that does video game broadcasts. This is a bummer. https://t.co/9bRKu46QrM
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2023
Form of surprised each as a supporter and also just from a enterprise POV, the future Television set legal rights negotiations are heading on like…appropriate now? https://t.co/0o6yGUPWpM
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) June 30, 2023
Weak. Lousy go by ESPN. Van Gundy named out some of the nonsense and built the game titles improved. TNT really should convey him on their studio show with Barkley, Kenny and Ernie. I could do with out Shaq https://t.co/0kcNcyYvil
— Mike Catalana (@MikeCatalana) June 30, 2023
The entire world is cruel. We shed JVG but even now have to hear to Reggie Miller https://t.co/mdvcCZwpDT
— Alex Blickle (@AlexBlickle1) June 30, 2023
ESPN is heading to recognize they produced a error here. JVG loves ball, no subject how considerably he leans into the grumpy previous person role. https://t.co/XUD7HIaDtk
— Andrew Perna (@Andrew_Perna) June 30, 2023
Some admirers are previously clamoring for Van Gundy to join TNT’s Inside of the NBA set with Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.
NBA on TNT postgame display is presently the very best studio clearly show at any time developed, but if they insert Van Gundy together with Chuck & Shaq, that present would fly into the future stratosphere https://t.co/F65ZzsCnYj
— Ryan Hickey (@Ryan_Hickey3) June 30, 2023
This is enormously silly. TNT employ this man instantly https://t.co/wAie8eVGIR
— Jeremiah Davis (@jeremiahdavis10) June 30, 2023
This news also means the conclusion of just one of the league’s most popular meme formats:
The finish of an era. https://t.co/78DYPdIIZY pic.twitter.com/gHXCdUk3gB
— Sam Gillenwater (@samdg_33) June 30, 2023
It’s surely the end of an era. It’s really hard to think about what marquee game titles on ESPN will sound like with out Van Gundy. Marchand described JJ Redick, Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson and Doc Rivers as possible replacements.
