Jeff Van Gundy isn’t feeling Kyrie Irving’s latest comments.
During ESPN’s broadcast Friday night of the Cavaliers-Wizards game, Van Gundy took issue with Irving’s comments that appeared to take a shot at Cavs coach Ty Lue.
“Somebody texted me something about him saying he went to Boston because he wanted to play for an intellectual coach,” Van Gundy told Mike Breen on air. “I want to get that quote because if he did say that, that’s disappointing because Ty Lue, I coached him and he’s a very smart man.”
Breen added, “When you coach a team that is led by LeBron James, that the expectations is title or disappointment each year, that’s a tough job.”
Van Gundy then added: “But more so, if it was said like that, that’s demeaning to his intellect, both as a coach and a person, and I don’t think it’s fair.”
After looking up Irving’s quotes, Van Gundy added, “I don’t like that quote, it was that.”
Appearaning on Holding Court with Geno Auriemma, Irving said he was “unbelievably craving” a tactical partner like Stevens, according to Bleacher Report.
“Brad fits perfectly in terms of that because he has an intellectual mind and is an intellectual human being,” Irving said. “It was something I was unbelievably craving in terms of what I wanted for my career.”
At media day Irving said that he “wouldn’t want to be with another coach.”
“Because he is that intellectual,” Irving said, according to NBC Sports Boston. “He is that high-character guy. He’s growth-oriented. He wants the best for his team. He’s realistic about his goals, about the mission.
“That’s who he is. He’s a smart individual that knows basketball.”
Lue, 40, went 78-45 in his first two seasons in Cleveland, winning the NBA championship in 2016 and losing in the NBA Finals to Golden State in 2017.
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