Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo believes NBA commissioner Adam Silver ordered ESPN to lay-off longtime analyst Jeff Van Gundy
Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo believes NBA chief Adam Silver ordered ESPN to lay-off veteran analyst Jeff Van Gundy as the fallout from the cuts continues.
Van Gundy, 61, is a former head coach of the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He has spent 16 years at ESPN, building a reputation for his blunt and occasionally contentious opinions.
He has formed a popular partnership with Mike Breen and Mark Jackson. Together they call the NBA finals.
But Van Gundy is now among those leaving the company and Russo – who this year signed a new ESPN contract to keep appearing on ‘First Take’ – believes outside forces are behind the decision.
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Specifically, ‘Mad Dog’ believes it goes all the way to the top of the NBA.
Veteran NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy is among those being laid off by broadcaster ESPN
Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo believes NBA chief Adam Silver (pictured) could be behind the decision
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‘I can’t fathom the idea that ESPN in these layoffs… would fire Jeff Van Gundy,’ Russo said on his SiriusXM podcast ‘Mad Dog’s Daily Bite’ on Tuesday.
‘You’re not going to convince me that ESPN woke up in the last two weeks, looked at the budget sheet, and said: “We gotta fire Van Gundy because we gotta save some money.” If that’s the case, fire Mark Jackson.
‘ESPN will never admit it. They’re gonna say it’s our call. 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 everybody likes. Nobody doesn’t like that team.’
‘I can’t fathom the idea that ESPN in these layoffs… would fire Jeff Van Gundy,’ Chris Russo said
Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals
Mad Dog added: ‘That leads me to the conclusion that someone in the league office must’ve told ESPN: “I want Van Gundy out…”
‘We all know he’s biting. We all know he gets on the officials. We all know he doesn’t hold back with his NBA opinions.
‘So, if you’re asking me, little talk show host, who may not know a thing, this is just my opinion, Silver is the one who fired Van Gundy. Silver told ESPN: “I want him out.”‘
Mail Sport has contacted the NBA for comment.
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