Jeff Van Gundy came down on the media Friday, claiming some members “are in the hip pocket” of Bulls management. He alleges the Bulls are leaking stories to “undermine” Tom Thibodeau.
Van Gundy’s comments came in a strongly-worded defense of the Bulls coach during ESPN’s telecast of the Bulls-Mavericks game. Thibodeau was a former assistant coach for Van Gundy and they are close friends.
“I read every Chicago story,” Van Gundy said. “There is no doubt the Bulls organization has the media, with a few exceptions, in their hip pocket. For whatever reasons, they have set their sights on Thibodeau when all he has done is deliver greatness in his five years (as the Bulls head coach).”
The candid Van Gundy, who usually operates without a filter, carefully chose his words by noting “exceptions.” It also isn’t clear if he is referring to Chicago media or national reporters.
A few moments earlier in a discussion with play-by-play voice, Mike Breen, Van Gundy said: “It’s almost criminal in basketball terms what he’s having to endure with some of the fringe media attacking his status, attacking his personality.”
Van Gundy said the situation isn’t new and that the team has a history of “leaking” stories to undermine its coaches.
“The team has publicly supported their coaches while privately undermining that same person,” Van Gundy said. “Think about it. They ran Phil Jackson out after winning all those championships. I think it’s wrong. It’s wrong for the team. It has not been fair to Tom.”
