Van Gundy out as Pistons’ coach, exec
Stan Van Gundy will not return to the Pistons as coach or president of basketball operations.
The Pistons announced Van Gundy’s departure Monday, with owner Tom Gores saying it was a difficult decision. He said Van Gundy wanted to return for a fifth season with the team.
“I am grateful to Stan for everything he’s done for the Pistons and for the city of Detroit,” Gores said. “He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from Day 1 to positively impact this franchise and this community.
“But over the past two seasons, our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum,” Gores said.
The Pistons went 39-43 this season, missing the playoffs for the third time in four years under Van Gundy. They’ve
made the postseason just once in the past nine seasons, and even a trade with the Clippers for Blake Griffin wasn’t enough to salvage 2017-18.
A decade ago, the Pistons were one of the game’s most respected organizations after reaching the Eastern Conference finals six straight years and winning the NBA title in 2004. They sank quickly into irrelevance after that.
Detroit missed the playoffs in the final five seasons of Joe Dumars’ tenure as team president, and Gores — who became owner in 2011 — eventually brought in Van Gundy, giving him authority in the front office in addition to his coaching duties.
The Pistons made the playoffs in Van Gundy’s second season at the helm, but they
couldn’t build on that breakthrough. This past season was particularly disappointing because it might have been the most productive of center Andre Drummond’s career.
With Drummond leading the way, Detroit started 19-14 and won on the road against the likes of the Warriors, Oklahoma City and Boston. Then an ankle injury to point guard Reggie Jackson derailed the season.
Rubio, Exum out: Utah said on Twitter that guards Ricky Rubio and Danté Exum won’t play Tuesday in Houston in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Each player will miss the game because of a strained left hamstring. The Rockets lead the series 3-1. Fizdale hiring: David Fizdale has been hired as coach of the Knicks. He says he’s hoping to “build the type of winning team the passionate fans of New York will be proud of.”
The Knicks announced the hiring after agreeing to terms with the former Memphis head coach last week. They plan to introduce Fizdale at a news conference Tuesday.
Fizdale went 50-51 with the Grizzlies, leading them to the postseason in his only full season before being fired early last year after clashing with center Marc Gasol. Fizdale becomes the 29th coach in franchise history, hoping to lead the Knicks out of a five-year postseason drought.
He replaces Jeff Hornacek, who lasted two seasons in New York before being fired hours after the season finale.