New NBA Rumors Reveal Finalist for Blazers HC Job Amid Tiago Splitter Buzz

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly considering a headlining veteran as they search for their subsequent head coach after Tiago Splitter served because the interim this previous season.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Thursday the Trail Blazers requested permission to interview Los Angeles Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy. Haynes famous Van Gundy “has emerged as one of the finalists” for the place.

Splitter went 42-39 within the interim function and led the Trail Blazers to the playoffs, the place they misplaced within the first spherical to the San Antonio Spurs.

On Tuesday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported “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.”

Still, the potential for bringing in a coach as skilled as Van Gundy might change the calculus.

Van Gundy was the top coach of the New York Knicks from the 1995-96 marketing campaign till the 2001-02 one after which turned the top coach of the Houston Rockets for 4 seasons from 2003-04 by 2006-07.

He is 430-318 general with 9 playoff appearances.

The Knicks reached the 1999 NBA Finals underneath his steering, and he additionally has expertise as an assistant for the Eastern Conference crew. Most lately, he has been on the Clippers’ workers the previous two seasons.

Portland has a proficient younger core with Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson main the way in which. What’s extra, franchise legend Damian Lillard figures to return subsequent season after lacking the 2025-26 marketing campaign as he recovered from an Achilles harm.

The Trail Blazers are certainly intriguing to teaching candidates, and Van Gundy might be the veteran chief to cleared the path as they give the impression of being to ascertain themselves as contenders within the Western Conference.