Report: ESPN Dismissed Mark Jackson And Jeff Van Gundy Due To "Desire To Coach"

In the long history of NBA commentators, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy left their mark through their quotable quotes, on-point analysis, and infectious energy. Their dismissal from ESPN left fans stunned, but now, a recent report has offered more clarity on the reasons behind their exit from the commentary booth.

According to an Aug. 28 report by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Jackson and Van Gundy were let go by ESPN because of their aspirations to return to a previous line of work.

“ESPN had company-wide layoffs, and part of the network’s reasoning for singling out Van Gundy and Jackson was because of their perceived continued desire to coach, according to sources briefed on the move,” Marchand wrote.

Van Gundy and Jackson, of course, have held high-profile coaching jobs in the past. On the one hand, Van Gundy had stints with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, imparting his wisdom to the likes of Patrick Ewing and Yao Ming. On the other hand, Jackson had a front row seat for the growth of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson into the fearsome Splash Brothers.

Both basketball minds have also seen their fair share of controversies while occupying the position of head coach. During the 1998 playoffs, JVG infamously clung to Alonzo Mourning’s leg as he attempted to break up a fight between his Knicks and the Miami Heat. As for Jackson, he was accused of delivering homophobic comments prior to his departure from Golden State in 2014.

Aside from the possibility of getting entangled in coaching pursuits, there was allegedly another reason that led to Van Gundy’s exit from ESPN. “The NBA was not a fan of Van Gundy criticizing officials, according to those sources,” Marchand added.

To Van Gundy’s credit, he has built a reputation as one of the most fearless hoops analysts on TV. His critical comments against referees have been well-documented over the years, and his sharp tongue is as familiar to NBA fans as Jackson’s signature “Mama, there goes that man!”

If Marchand’s report is accurate, Van Gundy’s brutal honesty cost him a prestigious spot on ESPN’s top NBA commentary team. He has since moved to the role of assistant coach with the LA Clippers, while Jackson continues to figure in speculations involving coaching vacancies.

Will either Jackson or Van Gundy ever make a comeback as an on-air analyst? No one can say for certain, but with the emergence of new platforms under the NBA’s new TV deal, their return remains a plausible scenario down the line.