Jeff Van Gundy may be in the market for a new whistle and clipboard.
Van Gundy, 61, was one of about 20 on-air talents recently laid off by ESPN as the network enacted cost cuts mandated by its parent company, Disney.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reported Thursday that, in light of the development, Van Gundy “has been actively exploring a return to coaching.”
Van Gundy previously had talks with the Mavericks and Celtics about becoming an assistant coach.
The report also said that there is “mutual interest” in Van Gundy becoming an assistant on Wes Unseld Jr.’s staff with the Wizards.
Van Gundy was head coach of the Knicks from 1996-2001, reaching the NBA Finals in 1999, and was head coach of the Rockets from 2003-07.
In his 11 seasons as a head coach, Van Gundy’s teams won 57.5 percent of their games.
Van Gundy worked for 16 years as a color commentator for ESPN and ABC and called nearly 100 NBA Finals games on ABC, most recently working alongside Mike Breen and Mark Jackson.
Speaking on his SiriusXM show earlier this week, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo hypothesized that NBA commissioner Adam Silver told the network to put an end to Van Gundy’s time with ESPN/ABC.
“ESPN will never admit it. They’re gonna say it’s our call. Nonsense. Why would they get rid of a great team? That team is a great team with [Mike Breen],” Russo said. “You’re not going to convince me that that team, that everybody likes. Nobody doesn’t like that team.
“That leads me to the conclusion that someone in the league office must’ve told ESPN, ‘I want Van Gundy out.’ We all know he’s biting. We all know he gets on the officials. We all know he doesn’t hold back with his NBA opinions.
“So, if you’re asking me — little talk show host, who may not know a thing, this is just my opinion — Silver is the one who fired Van Gundy. Silver told ESPN, ‘I want him out.’ ”
This theory was also broached by Substack writer Ethan Strauss on the “House of Strauss” podcast last weekend.