Jeff Van Gundy

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Lore & Background

On June 10, 2003, Van Gundy was named head coach of the Houston Rockets, replacing Rudy Tomjanovich. In his first season, the Rockets finished 45–37 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in five years, but were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers. In his second season, Van Gundy guided the team, led by Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, to a 51–31 record—their first season with more than 50 wins since 1996–97. The Rockets again lost in the first round, this time to the Dallas Mavericks. In May 2005, Van Gundy was fined $100,000 by the NBA for accusing referees of targeting Yao Ming, the largest fine ever handed down to a coach. Injuries to McGrady and Yao (missing a combined 70 games) kept the Rockets out of the playoffs in 2005–06. The following season, despite a late surge, the Rockets lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz in Game 7. Van Gundy was fired after that loss and replaced by Rick Adelman.

In Their Own Story

The 2005–06 season was brutal. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming missed a combined 70 games due to injury, and for the first time in his NBA head coaching career, Van Gundy did not make the playoffs. The disappointment carried into the next season: Yao played only 48 games, McGrady was not fully recovered, and the Rockets limped into the postseason. They pushed the Utah Jazz to a decisive Game 7 in the first round, but lost. That loss sealed Van Gundy's fate—he was fired and replaced by Rick Adelman. It was a bitter end for a coach who had brought the Rockets back to relevance after five years out of the playoffs, but injuries and a tough Western Conference proved too much to overcome.

Reader's Guide

Jeff Van Gundy's tenure with the Houston Rockets spanned four seasons, from 2003 to 2007. He was hired on June 10, 2003, replacing Rudy Tomjanovich. His first season (2003–04) produced a 45–37 record and a playoff berth, ending a five-year drought, but the Rockets lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the Rockets again fell in the first round, this time to the Dallas Mavericks. In May 2005, Van Gundy was fined $100,000 by the NBA for accusing referees of targeting Yao Ming, the largest fine ever for a coach. The 2005–06 season was derailed by injuries to McGrady and Yao (70 combined games missed), and the Rockets missed the playoffs. The 2006–07 season saw more injuries (Yao played 48 games, McGrady was not fully recovered), and the Rockets lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz in Game 7. Van Gundy was fired after that loss and replaced by Rick Adelman.

Did You Know?

• Van Gundy was fined $100,000 by the NBA in May 2005 for accusing referees of targeting Yao Ming—the largest fine ever handed down to a coach.
• In his first season as Rockets head coach (2003–04), the team qualified for the playoffs for the first time in five years.
• Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming missed a combined 70 games due to injury during the 2005–06 season, Van Gundy's only season missing the playoffs as an NBA head coach.
• Van Gundy was fired after a Game 7 first-round loss to the Utah Jazz in 2007 and replaced by Rick Adelman.