Former New York Knicks head coach and ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy has faith in interim head coach Mike Miller having success at the helm.

The Knicks have won three of their six games since Miller took over, and are looking much more competent after a stream of blowouts during the first 22 games of the season. Yet Van Gundy explained how Miller is operating with plenty of disadvantages.

“There’s not one benefit of coming in as an interim coach,” Van Gundy told Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “Not one. No preparation time. You have to take over for someone who hired you who just got through a traumatic, life-altering experience of losing a job. You have to navigate how you can be loyal to that person and at that same time move forward with your team to get them to play well. That’s a very hard thing to do.”

Miller doesn't have the pedigree of a Steve Kerr, who has played in the NBA and studied under great minds like Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich, nor does he have the experience of a Mike Budenholzer or Brett Brown, who both were Pop's understudies at some point.

But he does have a series of skills that can help him succeed as a coach.

“Are you confident, sincere, reliable and trustworthy?” asked Van Gundy. “And if you are, they don’t care if you played or didn’t play in the NBA, are black or white, big or small. That’s what they want. I believe Mike has all four of those completely knocked out of the park. That’s why I think he’ll be successful.
“He’s not the kind to win the press conference — all he’ll try to do is win the games. He is giving credit to the players. I think because of that it’s bread-and-butter basketball. It’s no thrills. It’s not gimmicky. It’s not something he gamed. It’s just fundamental, bread-and-butter basketball. What is winning in the NBA has always won in the NBA. Get more better shots than your opponent.”

Van Gundy and broadcasting partner Mark Jackson are two of the names that have floated in recent rumors as potential replacements for Miller, should the Knicks want to make a change before the end of the season. It seems Van Gundy is just hoping Miller succeeds.