Jeff Van Gundy Emerges as Blazers Finalist in Coaching Search
Jeff van gundy has emerged as one of the finalists for the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coaching job after the team requested permission to interview the Los Angeles Clippers assistant on Thursday. Portland is searching for its next coach after Tiago Splitter handled the interim role this past season, and the decision now points toward a more experienced voice for a roster built around younger talent.
Portland’s Coaching Search
The request to speak with Van Gundy moves the search into a more serious phase. Chris Haynes reported that Portland asked for permission to interview him, and the veteran coach’s name quickly rose to the front of the process.
Splitter’s stint gives the Trail Blazers a direct comparison point. He went 42-39 in the interim role and led Portland to the playoffs, where the team lost in the first round to the San Antonio Spurs. That run created a case for keeping continuity, but the front office is still weighing whether the job should go to someone with a longer head-coaching track record.
Van Gundy’s Resume
Van Gundy brings a long coaching record to the search. He coached the New York Knicks from the 1995-96 campaign through the 2001-02 season, then spent four seasons with the Houston Rockets from 2003-04 through 2006-07. His teams reached the 1999 NBA Finals with the Knicks, and he owns a 430-318 career record with nine playoff appearances.
He has also spent time as an assistant for the Eastern Conference team and has been on the Clippers’ staff for the past two seasons. That background gives Portland a candidate who has worked in different roles and in different settings, not just as a head coach trying to rebuild from scratch.
Splitter, Billups, and Portland
The search is not moving in one direction only. Jake Fischer reported Tuesday that after initial pessimism regarding Splitter’s chances of becoming Chauncey Billups' full-time replacement, there were whispers circulating Monday that it can no longer be ruled out. That keeps Splitter in the picture even as Van Gundy surfaces as a finalist.
Portland’s choice will shape how the team balances experience with development. The Blazers have a young core led by Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson, and Damian Lillard figures to return next season after missing the 2025-26 campaign while recovering from an Achilles injury. The next coach will inherit both the expectation of building around that group and the pressure that comes with a roster trying to rise in the Western Conference.
