After four seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Stan Van Gundy was fired from his head coaching position. Blake Griffin, who spent only half-a-season with Van Gundy, posted a message for him in response to the news.
On his Instagram account, Griffin posted a picture with his former coach, enclosed with a heartwarming message:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BifoX_KhS7C/?hl=en
Griffin was traded from the L.A. Clippers to the Pistons in January this year. In 25 games with his new team, the 28-year-old averaged 19.8 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists.
The Pistons finished the season with a 39-43 record, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. In his four-year stint in the Motor City, Van Gundy led the team to the playoffs once in 2015-2016, where they lost in the first round.
Per Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports, Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement:
“We have decided that this change is necessary to take our basketball organization to the next level. This was a very difficult decision and we did not come to it lightly. I am grateful to Stan for everything he’s done for the Pistons and for the City of Detroit.
“He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from day one to positively impact this franchise and this community.
“But over the past two seasons our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum.”
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