The opening of NBA free agency will see some major changes both on and off the court. Similar to franchises planning to have their rosters set for the next season as soon as possible, teams covering the league are doing the same. Despite a market cap of around $163 billion of its parent company, Walt Disney, ESPN has made some dramatic cuts to its workforce. Amidst all the drama, 61-year-old Jeff Van Gundy is a big name to come out. The veteran media analyst and former NBA coach is now making the headlines after ESPN’s drastic decision.

Alongside some other huge names, Van Gundy joins a long list of voices who have lost their jobs within the past few months. Despite his long history with the NBA, it seems the fans are relieved to see him go.

Veteran NBA analyst loses his job amid massive layoffs

Just a few weeks ago, Jeff Van Gundy called the NBA finals between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets, with Mike Breen and Mark Jackson. Having spent 16 years with ESPN, the experienced analyst was nearing the 1000 games mark.

ESPN’s recent layoff decisions also shattered his dreams of achieving the huge milestone. Millionaire NBA analyst Van Gundy, who has worked with eminent names like Stephen A. Smith, is now fired with 1 year remaining on his contract. Interestingly, it seems ESPN already has some replacements in mind.

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JJ Reddick, Richard Jefferson, and Doris Burke are the ideal candidates to land Van Gundy’s place. “Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun,” said an official statement according to sources. However, he wasn’t the only one to depart ESPN.

NBA Countdown’s popular host and former NBA star, Jalen Rose, lost his job too. Despite being a fan favorite, with an impressive track record, Rose’s time with ESPN has unfortunately concluded. He was ABC/ESPN’s top analyst for a decade before losing his job.

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Before axing Van Gundy, ESPN Radio ended its popular show featuring Jay Williams, Max Kellerman, and Keyshawn Johnson. Unlike Van Gundy, Kellerman and Johnson are still under contract. However, Williams’ contract is expiring soon. Safe to say, fans weren’t really disappointed with the proceedings.

Fans react to Stephen A. Smith’s colleagues getting fired

Despite his long history of calling games, it seems like the fans are relieved to see him go. One fan wrote, “good riddance“. Here are some reactions on Twitter.

Van Gundy has been part of the ESPN broadcasting team since 2007. While the trio of Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Mike Breen was well-loved, fans have often stated how they had the tendency of going off the rails, especially the former New York Knicks coach.

Van Gundy’s rants about some of the new rules in the league have gone viral over the years as well. However, fans will surely not miss that.

Some fans also blasted ESPN for their recent actions. Their actions resulted in the exit of some beloved voices over the past few months.

The names that have come up in rumors as possible replacements for Van Gundy haven’t impressed fans either. The names include JJ Redick, Richard Jefferson, Doris Burke, and more. One fan commented, “Richard Jefferson? Come on @espn Do better.”

Some NBA fans will definitely miss the veteran analysts. However, only time will tell what is to happen ahead.

What are your thoughts on Jeff Van Gundy’s exit? Let us know in the comments below.

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