Sports Illustrated polled 138 NBA players for its latest issue, on newsstands tomorrow, and asked which head coach is the most annoying during games. The Orlando Magic's Stan Van Gundy, with 65 percent of the vote, "won" in a landslide; Phil Jackson of the L.A. Lakers and Scott Skiles of the Milwaukee Bucks tied for second place, receiving seven percent of the votes apiece.
Van Gundy, in his fourth season leading the Magic, is among the most outspoken coaches in all of sports, as his recent feud with NBA Commissioner David Stern demonstrates. He's also taken on targets as big as the Miami Heat and Shaquille O'Neal during his Magic tenure. But this poll asked players to only consider the coaches' attitude during games. It's easy to understand why they may not take kindly to Van Gundy, with his high-pitched shouting and histrionics.
For all the negative attention he draws, Van Gundy has the respect of his players; Earl Clark and Quentin Richardson, new to Orlando this season, have spoken glowingly about Van Gundy, whose career .649 winning percentage ranks him fourth among active coaches with a minimum of 100 games' experience.
0 recs | 27 comments
That's all part of his genius.
He annoys the opponents into submission!
cgsimone - March 15, 2011
The NBA.....It's Stantastic!
JeffShann3 - March 15, 2011
Rec'd. Let Stan have his stamp all over, to the envy of those who can't stand him.
Matt1325 - March 15, 2011
nicely timed, SI
how much did Stern pay ya to publish that story until juuuuuust the right moment?
/conspiracy!!
TheGiantSquid - March 15, 2011
rec'd
nowuseemenowudont - March 15, 2011
What the Heck
Scott Skiles
Tkuang - March 15, 2011
Awesome! Another award for SVG.
Polls now show that winners annoy the people they beat.
MagicPhan - March 15, 2011
You want to know whats annoying?
The Magic playing like Virginia Tech every second game, Otis saying “give Gilbert another summer to get healthy”, the realization we will undoubtedly be knocked out in the second round this year, and all the talk of Dwight going to the Lakers after next year on talk radio today.
All that? Is annoying.
gatorboi352 - March 15, 2011
you left yourself off the list?
JeffShann3 - March 15, 2011
ha
fwedo - March 15, 2011
I can't top that. good work.
MagicPhan - March 15, 2011
Well, he's in good company then.
fwedo - March 15, 2011
Stern has beef with stan.
all because stan said the truth. come on everybody knows stern had everything to do with this and last nights game.
Lil J - March 15, 2011
Stern = Most Annoying Commissioner
INTOTHEMEATGRINDER - March 15, 2011
Don't miss Wojnarowski opinion article about Stern's NBA.
Normally I don’t agree with what I read from Wojnarowski, but Stern is increasingly out of touch. What he does, plus referees suing reporters for something EVERYONE and their grandmothers know exists in the NBA (make-up calls), plus the impending lock-out are really going to damage the NBA.
North of the South - March 15, 2011
no suprise
rabidmonkey51 - March 15, 2011
Why they going off on coach?
Before Stan Van Gundy came to Orlando, and turned this team around I rarely pictured the dancing gopher from caddyshack or Ron Jeremy.
chiefs_55 - March 16, 2011 via mobile
Is it just me?
Or has EVAN forgotten to post the LAKERS-MAGIC cover???
Can’t find this info anywhere…
manny55 - March 16, 2011
He didn't forget, he asked us on FB if it was even worth doing.
Most people said no.
fwedo - March 16, 2011
We all knew what happened
But just in case anyone cares here goes: Magic play elite defense for one half. Should have been up by at least 20. Second half Kobe went off, legs off a back to back kicked in, and they were done. In post game interview with Lisa Saulters, Bynum said he told Dwight there is no reason they should not go to you in the 3rd and 4th quarter. Bynum I would agree with you but Dwight had 9 turnovers. Maybe you wanted to keep blocking him or have one of the wing defenders swipe the ball away from him. Dwight still had a monster night. Gil continued his on/off play. As in off last night since he was on in the Phoenix game. There is the recap for anyone just in case.
Mateo9399 - March 16, 2011
Thanks...
I wondered what Bynum was saying to Dwight after the game…
You’re right; no need to cover the obvious. Next!
manny55 - March 16, 2011
SVG may be annoying
but fresh from the interwebs….STERN SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
it’s not just you guys who think so.
2NASHTY - March 16, 2011
gortat rox
but I still miss J-Rich
2NASHTY - March 16, 2011
This is bull
he is a great coach just doesn’t have enough playoff experience
TheonlyJagsfaninSD - March 16, 2011
Who?
Mateo9399 - March 16, 2011
Yeah, I can see that.
If I was an opposing player, I’d find him incredibly annoying during games as well.
Personally I think he’s hilarious, though. I hope he continues to go after Stern, too. The refs already treat the Magic differently than nearly every team in the league…so this idea that the refs would make the Magic pay for SVGs comments is just absurd. In fact, the best hope would be that it DOES get worse, and finally become so blatant that no one can deny it’s happening anymore.
The BBQ Chicken Madness - March 16, 2011
If Jeff Van Gundy covers Orlando in the playoffs, I wonder if it'll come up.
He calls everything like he sees it, but I’ve felt that he’s held back somewhat when it comes to his brother’s team, perhaps so that he doesn’t appear biased. But it’s out there big-time, now. My guess is that Jeff will get a memo to hush up.
MagicPhan - March 16, 2011
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Orlando Pinstriped Post to post a comment.