Report: Stan Van Gundy meeting with Pelicans, among finalists for head coach job

Stan Van Gundy is meeting with New Orleans Pelicans’ officials on Tuesday and is among one of four finalists for their vacant head coaching job, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Tyronn Lue is also among those finalists. He is also being heavily considered by the Houston Rockets.

Van Gundy hasn’t coached in the NBA since 2017-18 while head coach of the Detroit Pistons. He spent four seasons as the Pistons’ head coach after five seasons with the Orlando Magic. The high point of his time in Orlando being a trip to the NBA Finals in 2009, losing to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Van Gundy also coached the Miami Heat briefly from 2003-06.

Since taking a break from coaching, Stan Van has worked for ESPN and Turner/CBS Sports as a basketball analyst. The brother of Jeff Van Gundy, who is best known for coaching the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, Stan is well respected throughout the League, and is one of the better analysts on TV.

If the Pelicans hire Van Gundy, they’d be getting an experienced coach to lead a young core of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday. The Pelicans failed to make the postseason in the NBA bubble during the seeding round. After under performing despite missing Zion for a few games, the Pelicans decided to move on from then coach Alvin Gentry.