Jeff Van Gundy is the Clippers’ secret weapon: ‘He’s changed the ident

All season long, Los Angeles Clippers players have heard the same refrain from Jeff Van Gundy, the team’s lead assistant coach and defensive coordinator. “His whole thing is we have to be aggressive and anticipate everything,” Clippers forward Nic Batum recently said.

During games, Van Gundy exemplifies this mindset from the sideline. He shouts. He points. He waves his arms. He often pops out of his seat, sending his glasses sliding down his nose. “He’s always either cussing us out or cussing at the other team,” Clippers point guard Kris Dunn said. “He’s really intense.”

Advertisement

But during the team’s playoff opener Saturday against the Denver Nuggets, Van Gundy was presented with an opportunity almost never afforded to coaches: a chance to practice what he preaches. With 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Clippers clinging to a one-point lead, the ball — after being poked out of Kawhi Leonard’s hands — landed in his lap.

The referees ruled that it had last touched Leonard, but it was a close call. While the Clippers’ coaching staff mulled whether to challenge, Nuggets star Nikola Jokić darted toward their bench. Van Gundy quickly diagnosed the situation. He knew Jokić’s goal was to get the ball in and out of the referees’ hands before the Clippers could make a decision. He also knew the game was on the line and that, in that moment, what the Clippers needed most was more time. And so, as the nearly 7-foot, 280-pound-plus Jokić barreled toward him, Van Gundy, just 5-9, clutched the ball with both hands. Even as Jokić reached out, Van Gundy held on tight, refusing to let go, all while staring Jokić down.