Orlando Magic
In May 2007, Van Gundy received an offer to replace the fired Rick Carlisle as head coach of the Indiana Pacers. Van Gundy turned down the offer, but began interviewing for other head coaching jobs. He was considered a lead candidate to become head coach of the Orlando Magic and also the Sacramento Kings. However, the Magic hired Billy Donovan. Shortly thereafter, Donovan decided he wanted to back out of the deal and return to the University of Florida. Finally on June 5, 2007, the Magic released Donovan and offered another contract to Van Gundy. ESPN SportsCenter reported that the Heat allowed Van Gundy to coach the Magic in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2007 and the right to swap first-round picks in 2008 or another 2008 second-round draft pick and cash.
In Van Gundy's first season with the Magic, he guided them to a 52-win season, earning the team's first division championship since the 1995–96 season, and the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. Orlando defeated the Toronto Raptors 4–1 in the first round of the playoffs, advancing to the Eastern Semifinals for the first time in twelve seasons. They were later defeated in the Eastern Semifinals by the Detroit Pistons 4–1.
More success was found in the 2008–09 season. The Magic won 59 games, second most in franchise history, along with a second consecutive division championship. After defeating the team with the league's best record that season, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Magic won the Eastern Conference Finals in six games, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995 to face the Los Angeles Lakers, but lost the series in five games.
Also during the 2008–09 season, a bit of a feud developed between Van Gundy and Phoenix Suns center, and former Magic/Heat player, Shaquille O'Neal (the two were together when O'Neal played for the Heat and Van Gundy was his coach). After a game between the Suns and Magic, Van Gundy said O'Neal was flopping throughout the night. O'Neal fired back by calling Van Gundy "a master of panic," because Van Gundy was not successful in the playoffs per O'Neal. Despite everything, O'Neal was actually in attendance at Amway Arena on the night the Magic played Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
On January 31, 2010, Van Gundy was named the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, making it the second time he had been given the honor to coach an all-star team. He led the Eastern Conference to victory for the second time.
On April 5, 2012, Van Gundy made a controversial statement to the media, that he had knowledge Dwight Howard wanted him fired. Van Gundy stated that somebody from management had told him.
On May 21, 2012, Van Gundy was relieved of his duties as Head Coach, and general manager Otis Smith parted ways mutually with the organization.
Read more about this topic: Stan Van Gundy
Famous quotes containing the word magic:
“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself—for it is from the soil, both from its depth and from its surface, that a river has its beginning.”
—Laura Gilpin (1891–1979)