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Veteran head coach Stan Van Gundy has agreed to a four-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to multiple reports. New Orleans fired Alvin Gentry after five seasons with the team following the Pelicans’ 2-6 record in seeding games at the NBA’s Disney World bubble.
Pelicans were sold on SVG’s abilities as a teacher with a young roster, his history of building top defensive teams and his vision for the roster in place. His personnel decisions in Detroit was a non-factor in search; he’s coming to coach. https://t.co/XhWcUCIxKo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2020
New Orleans has a solid core with Zion Williamson, newly crowned Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick. Van Gundy’s reputation as a “teacher” helped make him a finalist for the job, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Tyrone Lue was also a finalist for the gig in New Orleans, but he recently agreed to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Van Gundy holds a 523-384 record in the regular season and a 48-43 playoff record. He has made previous head coaching stops with the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic (who went to the Finals in 2009 under Van Gundy) and Detroit Pistons.