As great of a player as Yao was, he was kind and patient with everybody. He wasn't trying to feed an image or cultivate a brand or manipulate a public persona. Jeff Van Gundy More Quotes by Jeff Van Gundy More Quotes From Jeff Van Gundy To be successful in anything, you have to have a passion for it, and that leads to being enthusiastic and demanding. I didn't have it for history. So I wouldn't have been a good teacher in that area. But I had it for basketball. And that's what coaching is at every level: it's about teaching. Jeff Van Gundy good good-teacher teacher history I broadcast games. I think there is a huge difference between print journalism and broadcasting. I don't have to say, 'sources close to LeBron James,' five times a game. I can just put my name to it. I say what I believe. It doesn't mean it's right. It's what I believe. Jeff Van Gundy name game journalism believe One of my college roommates was into The Police, and I got to like them. But I hear one of the guys left the band. Jeff Van Gundy roommates band police college As far as LeBron James, to me, he's on his way to carving out the very best career that's ever happened in the NBA. Jeff Van Gundy career best me way I love Joe Ingles. I think Joe Ingles is a tremendous glue player, terrific shooter, passer, defender. Jeff Van Gundy defender i-think think love I frankly think the NBA All-Star game has run its course, the whole dunk contest... The game - if those guys actually played hard in that game, it'd be the best watch ever. Jeff Van Gundy best game think hard Providence had a graduate assistant job opening. They asked me if I wanted to apply, and I applied. That break right there put me in position to learn from great coaches. It really jump-started every other good break I ever had in coaching. Jeff Van Gundy job great good me Among the hardest-working players I've ever been associated, Yao stands at the very top of the list. Beyond that, though, here's what truly separated him from everyone else: His ability to enjoy other people's successes. Jeff Van Gundy beyond everyone enjoy people The beauty of growing up in a coaching family, particularly one that isn't at the very highest level, is that you get to be in the gym - that's where you grow up. Jeff Van Gundy you gym family beauty The triangle itself is just an offense based on freedom of the ball to go to different places, everybody feeling involved. It's a good thing. Jeff Van Gundy feeling good go freedom It's hard to change a roster around. You've got to hit your draft picks right, you've gotta hit free agency right, and a team's got to fit together. Jeff Van Gundy you team change together If you are going to call out your teammates, you have to call out yourself, too. You can't just separate yourself from the rest, because if you are going to get 90 percent of the credit when you win, you have to be willing to take 90 percent of the blame when you lose. Jeff Van Gundy rest yourself win you I was asked to do something and represent my country. That's a great honor. This isn't about what it could do for me but what I could do for U.S.A. Basketball. Jeff Van Gundy great me honor country My intensity is my greatest strength. It's also my greatest weakness. Jeff Van Gundy greatest intensity weakness strength If you coach, and coach every day, you should be getting better if you're self-evaluating and you've got people around you telling you the truth. Jeff Van Gundy day you truth people There is a goodness about Yao that is unique, that never left him through all the pain and injuries and disappointments that accompanied his unprecedented accomplishments and successes. Jeff Van Gundy injuries never pain unique Everyone wants to focus on what Ben Simmons can't do, which is shoot and try to rush him into being a range shooter. I think Simmons in Philadelphia has done a good job in focusing what he does great versus what he doesn't do as well. Jeff Van Gundy job great good focus There have been people who said I was a Pat Riley clone. But I don't think that's true. While I did learn a lot from him, I could never be him. I mean, we even dress so differently. Jeff Van Gundy dress never think people Every team has leadership. The leadership is the best players. But there's positive leadership, and there's negative leadership. Jeff Van Gundy best team leadership positive Systems are overrated; players are underrated. Jeff Van Gundy systems players underrated overrated
