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Sources tell The Stein Line that three of the five finalists we identified last week remain under consideration for the full-time post in Portland: Minnesota's Nori, Boston's Tyler Lashbrook and Blazers acting coach Tiago Splitter. The other finalists who, according to sources, did not advance: The Clippers' Van Gundy and Utah's Mike Williams.
Shams Charania: Sweeney will finish the remainder of the postseason on the Spurs bench -- with Game 7 on Saturday night for an NBA Finals berth. Former Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and LA Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy were the two other finalists for the Magic's coaching vacancy, sources said.
This week, the Magic interviewed at least one candidate for the job that opened May 4 — the day Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman dismissed Jamahl Mosley. Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy interviewed for the position, a league source confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel on Friday.
Jeff Van Gundy returned to full-time NBA coaching in 2024-25 with the Clippers after a 16-year stint with ESPN and one season as a coaching consultant with the Boston Celtics. He is believed to earn an annual salary in the $3 million range to serve as Tyronn Lue's top aide with the Clippers — one of the highest figures in the NBA for an assistant — and there is naturally great curiosity regarding how much Dundon would be willing to offer in comparison to lure Van Gundy to the Pacific Northwest given a longstanding belief leaguewide that he does not want to spend lavishly for his first head coach.
Marc Stein: Minnesota's Micah Nori is also a finalist for the Portland coaching vacancy, @TheSteinLine has learned. Nori, Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter and LA Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy are the known finalists.
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Marc Stein: Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter is also a finalist for the full-time post, sources tell @TheSteinLine. The other known finalist per @ChrisBHaynes: Jeff Van Gundy. @JakeLFischer reported earlier this week that Splitter, amid Chicago interest, was back in the Portland race.
Chris Haynes: Portland Trail Blazers have requested permission to meet with Los Angeles Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy as he has emerged as one of the finalists for their head coach opening, league sources tell me.
Sources say Tom Thibodeau, to the contrary, is not involved in the Magic's interview process at this point. Yet it's well-established that Orlando wants to hire a coach with experience and sources tell both Marc Stein and me that Orlando has LA Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy on its radar as well. The defensive guru on Tyronn Lue's staff is the brother, of course, of former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.
While I always hesitate to frame any potential hire as the favorite for a job, since NBA matters can be so fluid, coaching insiders across the league's landscape are very much operating under the belief that former Bulls coach Billy Donovan has an excellent shot at landing the post. Sources confirmed that Donovan is in dialogue with Magic president Jeff Weltman and will have an in-person meeting with Orlando's lead executive in the near future…Orlando has LA Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy on its radar as well. The defensive guru on Tyronn Lue's staff is the brother, of course, of former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.
Justin Russo: Asked Jeff Van Gundy why Clippers’ defense has improved so much in the last two months: “We’re faster now. You can make up a lot of different reasons, but we’re a lot faster.” Van Gundy also praised Kris Dunn for his ability to always “help your tenacity and your anticipation.”
Asked Jeff Van Gundy why Clippers’ defense has improved so much in the last two months: “We’re faster now. You can make up a lot of different reasons, but we’re a lot faster.” Van Gundy also praised Kris Dunn for his ability to always “help your tenacity and your anticipation.” pic.twitter.com/Q0RA53srUD
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) March 1, 2026
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Law Murray: Jeff Van Gundy: “If you don’t like Ty, you’re the asshole.”
Law Murray: You all can thank @LaurenMRosen for the context More JVG on T. Lue: "He's not only a brilliant coach, but the thing I think he gets that eludes others is that he wants happiness and success for everybody. And I believe that is the key to life."
Woj: Stephen, Jeff Van Gundy had your role a few years ago and coached a couple cycles of America Cup, World Cup qualifying. Your coaching tree goes back with Jeff. He worked with your dad, the legendary Paul Silas with the Knicks. I think you've probably known Jeff since you were a kid. Was he somebody whose brain you picked going into this experience? Stephen Silas: Absolutely. He was the first person I called. So Sean Ford, who's amazing by the way, he called me and asked me if I wanted to do it and he was like, ’reach out to Jeff.’ So the first call I made was to Jeff and Jeff was like absolutely do it. He was like there's so much that's good about it. There's guys who come in and really want to work and there's a lot of guys who want to be there and haven't played for their country before or haven't worn the USA on their chest and that's a cool thing as well. But the guys that we get, the guys that Sean picks are usually just great guys who are willing and able to do whatever you want them to do. But, Jeff, I lean on Jeff quite a bit. Like when I was a head coach of Houston, I used to call Jeff, we would go to lunch and spend a lot of time together. He's a basketball genius, but he's also really good at the people part and the group dynamic part. So yeah, whether it's USA basketball or playing groups or whatever, Jeff is someone I've always leaned on.
James Harden on coach Jeff Van Gundy: "He's a psycho in a good way... He'll write me notes and leave them in my locker."