This makes no sense.
I have never seen this before in my years of working in media. An interview with a guy who has nothing to do with anything is causing NBA coaches to act like babies. Here are his comments via The Detroit Free Press.
“I thought it was a cheap shot and I thought ESPN showed total disrespect,” Van Gundy said Monday at Smoothie King Center, where the Pistons will face the New Orleans Pelicans later in the day.
“I don’t have a problem with LaVar Ball. He’s a grown man. He can voice whatever opinion he wants. I got a problem with ESPN deciding that’s a story.”
In the e-mail, Van Gundy threatened non-cooperation when it comes to the extra access given to TV. ESPN will televise the Jan. 19 matchup with the Pistons and Washington Wizards.
“I’m not meeting with their announcing crew before the game, I’m not doing the in-game interview,” Van Gundy said. “I’m not going to participate in the thing.”
When pressed if it means he’s threatening to withhold access, Van Gundy said: “I’m not denying them access. I’m not kicking them out of press conferences. They want extra stuff from us and they’re going to treat an NBA coach with that little respect? Then I’m going to choose not to give them extra access”
This is ridiculous and considering how Stan Van Gundy has come out against Donald Trump for him of all people to restrict access is hypocrisy.