JVG Calls out NBA and Jason Kidd

The point he's making is irrelevant. I tune into ESPN to watch basketball, which JVG continually strays away from. He has, what, less than two hours a week to stay on point and call the game, and he can't even manage that?

If you want to go off topic, fine. Get a Twitter account. Start up a radio show on ESPN Radio -- they'd gladly have you.

Jeff, please start using that big basketball brain of yours to tell me about the game you're a few feet away from.

 

Your points are well taken. However, League Pass serves as a reminder of homerism in the NBA booth. When one of JVG's pedigree gets to barking it can be worth listening to.

There is a preponderance of national games without interference on potential thought evoking insights. I'm glad, for one, that JVG is out there.

 

I am with you here xiki. League suspensions is an NBA topic, it's not like he is calling a game and started ranting about obamacare. Suspensions are topical and as they directly effect the game when players get suspended, I think it is fair conversation .This was probably 30 seconds out of a 2 and half hour broadcast. I mean even if all they did was break down basketball, eventually you need to talk about something else. That's why ESPN debates Kobe vs Lebron and teaches you how to salsa like Victor Cruz. Sports are fun, but at some point there isn't much left to be said. So we get a lot of filler and fluff.

 

^^^ I agree. Jason Kidd's team was one of the two being broadcast that night and he was absent. I think it's OK to briefly comment on it.

JVG does stray a bit far off topic at times but I am not sure if commenting on the suspension of the Nets' coach absent from this game when broadcasting Nets vs. Heat is one of them.

 

It's ok if you don't like JVG, but I think he is one of the top game broadcasters.

 

I actually didn't mind the minor social-commentary-like rant. Why shouldn't we expect better of NBA players/coaches/staff in their personal lives, especially on the topic drunk driving and the potential effect it could have on innocent bystanders. NBA has a platform, might as well take advantage of it and use a few minutes to call them out.

 

It's just like talking about any other rule change, it seems to me.

 

We seriously think commentators should only talk about their particular game the entire time? Really?

That sounds unbelievably boring to me. I love it when JVG is commentating because I never know what's coming from him. That makes the games even more interesting to me.

 

JVG is great as commentator, and says things that would have had him fined $100,000 if were still a coach in the league.

and those things he says go on to become the truth.

 

Nothing wrong with what he says, this is very relevant to the overall state of the nba which fans care about, not to mention he does talk about the game at hand for the majority of the game.

Not sure why you are so bitter.

 

I can respect the viewpoint that some of the audience want 100% focus on what's going on in the game. But I don't think its quite off topic to talk about league-wide issues in an NBA telecast. If he's ranting about pop culture or politics, that's a different matter.

My view is that there comes a point where you can elaborate on what's going on in the game but it doesn't necessarily add all that much. I'm OK with a balance of micro-analysis of in-game things, plus commentary on overarching issues relevant to the sport. IMO, topics related to NBA, and some topics that impact all sports, is fair game as long as it doesn't dominate the discussion.

 

You have a right to your opinion Kelly but JVG is I guy I really enjoy listening to and personally I agree with him. IMO he's the best at what he does and as a former coach I think he has tremendous insight on topics such as David Stern and NBA Discipline. I think Stern and the NBA are generally out of touch with the way the dish out punishment and I for one don't mind JVG calling them out on it.

 

If so many professional sports players weren't such idiots JVG would have nothing to say about them.

 

Van Gundy's statement was germane to the game he was covering. It's not as if he devoted a quarter to the discussion.

 

Kelly, I have to disagree with you here. Jason Kidd was one of the more high profile players in the league, and now he is the head coach of one of the most high profile teams in the league. In that position, he represents the NBA as a whole, and his actions and the punishments for those actions deserve discussion. JVG is absolutely right in this case, and I think it is great to have a voice in the national media willing to stick his neck out and call him out.

You of all people watch a lot of basketball. Color commentators always stray from analysis during certain points of the game. I would much rather hear the commentator discuss a real valid issue like this than hearing the usual babbling nonsense we get from most color commentators.

 

JVG is right. People should not get a slap on the wrist for serious offenses even if its of the court and then get penalized for minor, trivial offenses on the court. It is counter-intuitive and wrong.

 

Jeff Van Gundy IS one of the best, and that's why I want more of him. I want Xs and Os-work, things that help me learn more about the game that never stops teaching us.

I wish he'd teach us more, instead of preaching to us more.

 

Dang from someone who's twitter account sounds like someone with ADD on crack, you're pretty harsh on JVG aren't you.

 

People don't like JVG? I think he's by far the best in the business.