Dwight Howard Wanted Stan Van Gundy Fired?
Dwight Howard, 26-year-old Orlando Magic center who has been vocal about his Christian faith in the past, is reportedly attempting to get his team's entire coaching staff fired.
Howard reportedly asked for the firing of head coach Stan Van Gundy and his staff in exchange for him signing a contract extension, Orlando's WKMG-TV reported.
"In order for Dwight Howard to sign a contract extension this summer with the Orlando Magic," sources told WKMG Sports Director David Pingalore. "Team owners will have to fire head coach Stan Van Gundy, as well as his coaching staff."
The rumors surrounding Howard's desire to fire the Magic coaching staff have been circulating for weeks, causing Van Gundy's brother and sports analyst, Jeff Van Gundy, to speak out about the issue.
"(I) don't know what they agreed to, but anybody who doesn't think senior management and Howard have come to an agreement on either trading players to get people he (Dwight) likes or changing the coach or changing the general manager or changing the marketing of him. … Whatever they agreed to, there's been an agreement made," Jeff Van Gunday said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "…What the Magic senior executives are doing right now is unbecoming. The groveling and begging is hard to read and watch. His (Dwight's) opinion should matter, but the strong organizations stand for something rather than fall for anything."
However, Magic owner Rich DeVos told Pingalore that there is no truth to the claims that Howard is dictating what is taking place with coaches on the team.
"He's not going to dictate what is going to happen. We talked to him about it and the mistake that we made is that we didn't talk to him about his preferences," DeVos said. "He can't make those decisions and choices. We will make those, but we will let him know what we are making and we want his opinion on what fits and doesn't fit."
Still, Van Gundy candidly told reporters that he knew Howard attempted to have him fired recently.
"I was told it was true by people in our management right from the top," Van Gundy admitted. "I know he has."
However, Howard denied the claims in an Orlando Sentinel report.
"Whatever happens at the end of the season is not under my control...I am not the GM. I am not [team owner] Rich DeVos. So that's not my job," Howard said. "I haven't said anything to anybody about anything. Our main concern is winning. So all the other stuff should stop."
For now, Van Gundy and his staff remain in their respective positions on the Orlando Magic. The team will face the New York Knicks on Thursday on their home court.
