Eight months after the unexpected death of his wife Kim, former NBA head coach and current TNT broadcaster, Stan Van Gundy, revealed on Dan Le Batard’s podcast that she died by suicide. Van Gundy spoke openly about his grief, admitting that he still struggles to come to terms with the fact that he will never see her again. He emphasized the impact of their marriage of 35 years and how he is trying to live by her values to make her proud. Van Gundy has been undergoing therapy to cope with the loss, acknowledging that he may never fully get over it.
In addition to dealing with the loss of his wife, Van Gundy has also had to confront death in other areas of his life. He discussed how death has become more prevalent as he gets older, including the recent passing of his brother Jeff’s best friend due to cancer. This has led him to question how to find joy in life and how to go on day to day in the face of tragedy and sickness. Van Gundy shared that his children have been his main source of happiness and motivation to keep going.
Despite his grief, Van Gundy has been honest about his mental state with his former players and those around him, including acknowledging a particularly difficult period around the six-month anniversary of his wife’s death. He mentioned the importance of not burdening others with his pain and that having former players come to visit him and ask how he was doing made a difference. Van Gundy has tried to balance being open about his struggles while also not turning his support system into a source of misery for others.
Throughout his storied career as a coach, spanning from Division III to the NBA with teams like the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, and New Orleans Pelicans, Van Gundy has experienced his fair share of challenges. Despite stepping away from coaching in 2021, following his wife’s death, he continued to work as a broadcaster for TNT during the NBA season, including being a part of the Western Conference finals team. Van Gundy’s openness about his grief and mental health struggles serve as a reminder of the importance of seeking support and finding ways to cope with loss.
