With Steve Kerr seemingly a lock to coach the New York Knicks, former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy reportedly is the Golden State Warriors' top choice to replace Mark Jackson. Van Gundy didn't rule out returning to the NBA when speaking on a radio show last week.
Golden State's optimism of being able to hire Kerr seemingly has faded, and the team now reportedly is focusing on Van Gundy, whom the Warriors are expected to interview sometime soon.
"Hearing Stan Van Gundy's first formal Warriors interview is 'imminent,'" ESPN's Marc Stein tweeted on Sunday. "ESPN reported Saturday that SVG is 'closest thing' to GSW top target."
Van Gundy, who last coached in 2012, acknowledged last week Golden State had contacted his representatives and didn't rule out a possible return to the NBA if the circumstances were right.
"I have not met with them or anything else. There have been calls to gauge interest, and until you get a chance to actually talk to somebody, it's even hard to say if they're interested or if I would be [interested]," Van Gundy said Thursday on 740 AM's "Open Mike" show, via the Orlando Sentinel. "So we're not at that point of even sitting down and talking yet. ...
"Part of me does (want to coach again), part of me doesn't," he said. "Look, we're so happy in Central Florida. It would really have to be a great situation for me to get back in. I miss a lot of it. I really do. I miss the competition. I miss the challenge. I miss the camaraderie of it. But I also like the time that I've had, so we'll just have to see what happens. You weigh every situation."
If Van Gundy passes on the job, ESPN reports the Warriors' list of candidates also includes Mike D'Antoni, Lionel Hollins, Alvin Gentry and George Karl.
