Detroit Pistons president and head coach Stan Van Gundy faced some hard truths in the midst of the controversy stirred up by his peer, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson, earlier this week.
Jackson incensed LeBron James and James' longtime friend and manager, Maverick Carter, by referring to their circle of associates - which also includes NBA superagent Rich Paul - as a "posse" in an interview with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. Carter and James took exception to Jackson's word choice, saying it was used to cheapen their individual achievements, and was applied to them because they're black.
Van Gundy admitted Wednesday that he, too, has used the term before, and not without racial bias.
"I had to ask myself, 'Have I used that word with a white player before?'" Van Gundy told reporters, according to Newsday's Laura Albanese. "And the answer is no."
Van Gundy condemned the selective use of the word, by both himself and Jackson.
"I think you need to be willing to look in the mirror and call yourself out," he said. "I don't think I've used that term in a long, long time, but I think, going back to my days as an assistant, when I was younger, I know in the past I have used that term. I'm just being honest, and it's not right."
