Stan Van Gundy has coached basketball on almost every level, from Division III Castleton, to the scrappy Catamounts of Vermont U competing in the America East Conference, through a stint in the historic powerhouse Big 10 with the Wisconsin Badgers, through his NBA head coaching gigs with the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons. So, he knows more about the administrative and systemic issues that surround college basketball like very few others.
The Van Gundys, both Jeff, Stan and father Bill, have never had a problem speaking on whatever issue theyve felt necessary. Recently, Stan tore into the NCAA, as well as the NBAs one-and-done rule. He called the National Collegiate Athlete Association one of the worst organizations in sports, and doubled-down on his disdain of this lionized institution by calling the NBAs rule regarding one and done players racist.
Bleacher Report on Twitter
Stan Van Gundy on one-and-done rule: “I think a lot of it was racist”, per @Vincent_Ellis56 https://t.co/ENfaky11A8
He made his concerns on the matter known in the wake of the ongoing boiling caldron that the NCAA finds itself cooking in regarding the FBI investigation that has revealed ongoing corruption and bribery in the allegedly amateur game of college basketball.
“The NCAA is one of the worst organizations — maybe the worst organization — in sports,” Van Gundy said. “They certainly don’t care about the athlete. They’re going to act like they’re appalled by all these things going on in college basketball. Please, it’s ridiculous and it’s all coming down on the coaches.”
He also went in on those who would judge the kids rather than the institution that made it necessary for some of them to take money.
“People that were against [players] coming out [of high school] made a lot of excuses, but I think a lot of it was racist. I’ve never heard anybody go up in arms about [minor-league baseball or hockey],” Van Gundy told reporters. “They are not making big money and they’re white kids primarily and nobody has a problem.
“But all of a sudden you’ve got a black kid that wants to come out of high school and make millions. That’s a bad decision, but bypassing college to go play for $800 a month in minor league baseball? That’s a fine decision? What the hell is going on?”
James Edwards III on Twitter
Pistons’ SVG on HS kids going to NBA: “I’ve always been in favor of that. I’ve been in favor of that strictly on a fairness issue. … You can turn 18 and go work anywhere else. An 18-yea-old, if they’re talented enough, can come into your profession and get a job.”
“I’ve always been in favor of that,” he said via The Athletic. “I’ve been in favor of that strictly on a fairness issue. … You can turn 18 and go work anywhere else. An 18-year-old, if they’re talented enough, can come into your profession and get a job. I think, personally, and now I’m definitely on a soap box, but the people against them coming out made a lot of excuses, but I think a lot of it was racist, quite honestly.”
