Jackson: "It's a Crime" Van Gundy Has No Coaching Job

"It’s a crime that (Van Gundy) is not a head coach in this league,” Jackson said on the latest edition of his web series "The Mark Jackson Show." “I’m talking about as smart a basketball mind as I’ve ever been around in my life, and I’ve been around a lot of greats. It is a crime."

“People say I should be a head coach, I’m not going to argue with them, I believe that wholeheartedly. (But), Jeff Van Gundy, there’s so many guys trying to be him. (He's a) brilliant basketball mind and I look forward to having him on this show."

Van Gundy spent parts of seven seasons at the helm of the Knicks and currently stands as the third-winningest coach in franchise history at 248. After he resigned from the Knicks' post in the early stages of the 2001-02 season, Van Gundy led the Houston Rockets for four seasons (2003-07) and briefly hosted Jackson for his final NBA season in 2004 before the duo reunited on the Worldwide Leader's airwaves.

Following ESPN's layoff-induced roster shuffle, which put Breen, Doris Burke, and Doc Rivers (later JJ Redick after Rivers accepted the Milwaukee Bucks' head coaching job) on its top games, Van Gundy accepted a "coaching consultant" position with the Boston Celtics. Rumors circulated that he and Jackson could've called Knicks games on MSG Network but those plans fell through.

Though Van Gundy is back within an NBA organization's ranks, both Jackson and his son/co-host Mark Jr., a.k.a. Bluu, believe that he is long overdue for a promotion.

"He's a player's coach, he knows the game," the younger Jackson said. "Watching him behind the scenes, he knows it in and out. Whatever circumstance occurs, he knows what happened just now, what difference he would make, what occurred three layers beneath that jump shot off of a downscreen. He's brilliant." 

Whatever Van Gundy is providing in Boston, it appears to be working: the Celtics (51-14) currently own the NBA's best record, which includes a perfect four-game ark against the Knicks, and can become the first team to clinch its spot in the NBA playoffs on Thursday night.