Magic ax: Van Gundy says Howard wants him fired
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Stan Van Gundy's days as Magic coach already were numbered, and apparently he doesn't plan to go out without a fight.
Van Gundy said after Thursday's morning shootaround that Dwight Howard went to Magic officials and asked that they fire the coach. That bombshell stunned the media and shocked Howard.
In what became a surreal and bizarre scene, the Magic superstar walked in toward the end of Van Gundy's interview session and put his arm around his coach, not knowing that a few minutes earlier, Van Gundy had said Howard pushed for his dismissal.
"I know he has," Van Gundy said. "That's just the way it is. I've been dealing with that all year. It's not anything real bothersome. You go out and do your job.
"I was told it was true by people in our management. So, you know, right from the top."
Van Gundy was responding to an Orlando television report that said Howard wants him out. Then ESPN reported Howard never asked management to fire Van Gundy. But Van Gundy rebuted that after the shootaround. He also said that if the Magic fired him before Thursday night's game against the Knicks, he would be fine with that.
"I'm the coach until they decide I'm not the coach," he said.
Howard was oblivious to what Van Gundy said about him. He entered smiling and continued smiling until Van Gundy walked away and Howard was asked about trying to get his coach fired.
Howard kept asking whom the source was and was told it was Van Gundy. He never admitted going to management.
"You don't have no real evidence, then don't bring it up," Howard said. "There's no need to. It's a rumor. You don't have no evidence, then don't say it.
"Who said it? Do you know? I don't know neither, so why keep bringing it up?"
Howard said he and Van Gundy are "on the same page" and that winning is all that matters.
"The only thing that we're concerned with is winning a championship right now," Howard said. "Whatever happens at the end of the season is not under my control. I am a player for the Magic, I am not the GM, I am not [owner] Rich DeVos, I am not [CEO] Alex Martins, so that's not my job."
Van Gundy seemed to be releasing a season's worth of frustration. He anticipated questions about Howard, and Van Gundy had no plans to cover for his best player.
"The only thing I'm ever uncomfortable with is [lying],'' Van Gundy said. "So to come in and no-comment, or deny that it's true and everything . . . The only thing I guess that ever liberates me is just be honest and deal with what's out there. Some people have a hard time with that, I guess. But to me, that's a lot easier to deal with than [lying].''
Howard held the Magic hostage most of the season with his on-again, off-again trade requests. He nearly was dealt to the Nets at least twice, but before the trade deadline, he signed a waiver that he wouldn't opt out after the season.
More NBA news
