Dwight Howard denies having any role in firing of Coach Stan Van Gundy – NBA News
Orlando Magic All Star centre Dwight Howard had told TMZ that he did not have any role to play in the firing of Stan Van Gundy, the head coach of the team.
“I hate to see anyone lose their job. Me and Stan ... we had our ups and downs ... but for the most part we had one goal ... to win a championship in Orlando, but we fell short" said Howard while talking to TMZ.
Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy had a falling off in early April when Van Gundy said in a press conference that a high ranking team official had told him that Howard asked team management to fire Van Gundy as a condition of him signing a long term contract with the Orlando Magic.
Howard denied the claim and since then, the Magic’s already struggling season started declining even more as they lost places in the Eastern Conference rankings and eventually crashed out in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Indiana Pacers with Howard missing from action due to a season ending back injury.
On Monday, CEO of the Orlando Magic Alex Martins had made it clear that Howard had no say in the management’s decision to fire Van Gundy.
He said this is a press conference after he had fired Van Gundy and mutually agreed with General Manager Otis Smith that Smith would leave his position. Both seats are still lying vacant.
ESPN NBA analyst and brother of Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy said in an interview to 98.7 ESPN New York on Thursday that he does not believe Howard had no role to play in the firing of his brother.
"To hide behind the fact or try to make everyone believe that Dwight Howard didn't have a part in this is absurd," Jeff Van Gundy said. "Say listen, we fired this guy because we know this our best chance to keep Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard and [Martins] decided to fire him” said Jeff Van Gundy.
Dwight Howard is in California at the moment where he is recovering from a back surgery performed earlier this month. He has been ruled out of the Olympics this year and hopes to return to action in time for next season.
Tags: