{"id":80811,"date":"2024-06-08T15:53:54","date_gmt":"2024-06-08T19:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=80811"},"modified":"2024-06-08T15:53:54","modified_gmt":"2024-06-08T19:53:54","slug":"celtics-to-replace-charles-lee-veteran-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/06\/08\/celtics-to-replace-charles-lee-veteran-head-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics to Replace Charles Lee With Veteran Head Coach?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has corroborated a report by NBA insider Marc Stein, who purported that there\u2019s been \u201ccuriosity circulating in coaching circles<\/a>\u201d about the possibility former head coach Jeff Van Gundy joins his staff as a replacement for Charles Lee.<\/p>\n

Lee, the top assistant on Mazzulla\u2019s bench, has agreed to become<\/a> the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.<\/p>\n

Celtics to Replace Charles Lee With Jeff Van Gundy?<\/h2>\n

Van Gundy, the younger brother of another former NBA head coach in Stan Van Gundy, spent 11 seasons roaming the sidelines of the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.<\/p>\n

In that time, he went 430-318 in the regular season. He had a 44-44 record in the postseason, taking the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999. However, after three seasons trying to take the injury-prone duo of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming to the NBA Finals, his coaching career came to an end. It was no short hiatus either, as the California native became a fixture in the broadcast booth. From 2007 to 2023, Van Gundy treated fans with his often exasperated color commentating.<\/p>\n

JVG In Boston<\/h3>\n

Laid off by ESPN last June, Van Gundy\u2019s friendship with Celtics president Jeff Van Gundy may have been what led him to Boston. Indeed, he\u2019s \u201chad a good relationship<\/a> with Stevens over the years,\u201d per MassLive\u2019s Brian Robb. This is presumably a significant factor in Van Gundy\u2019s decision to join Boston as a senior consultant of basketball operations. Nonetheless, when asked about the he joins the team as an assistant coach, Mazzulla says the Celtics \u201cdon\u2019t really know yet<\/a>\u201d (h\/t 98.5 The Sport Hub\u2019s Zolak & Bertrand).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always said we are going to hire from within and kind of talk more about that after the season,\u201d he continues.<\/p>\n

With that said, Van Gundy already has a vote of confidence from the team\u2019s lead decision-maker. Speaking about Van Gundy prior to the 2024 NBA All-Star Break, Stevens says \u201che\u2019s loving being here. He\u2019s long being part of the team. And we all love having him around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been a good friend for a long time,\u201d Stevens admits. \u201cHe\u2019s got great insights. He thinks like a coach. He\u2019s been in different arenas calling different games for different players and meeting with different coaches for 15 years since he last coached…<\/p>\n

\n

Brad Stevens has very high praise for Jeff Van Gundy:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy has a wealth of experience, a wealth of knowledge, and yet acts like an entry-level intern\u2026 he\u2019s kind to everybody, he\u2019s the most humble guy you\u2019ve ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Via @NBCSBoston<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/P3zFMqwzEV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Noa Dalzell \ud83c\udfc0 (@NoaDalzellNBA) February 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n