The Portland Trail Blazers have requested permission to meet with Los Angeles Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy, who's one of the finalists for their head coaching vacancy, sources told Prime Video's Chris Haynes.
Van Gundy last served as an NBA head coach in 2007 with the Houston Rockets. The 64-year-old re-joined the coaching ranks two years ago following a long broadcasting career with ESPN.
Van Gundy served as Tyronn Lue's lead assistant and defensive coordinator. The Clippers finished third and 18th, respectively, in defensive efficiency over the past two campaigns.
Van Gundy holds a 430-318 record across 11 seasons as a head coach between the New York Knicks and Rockets.
He spent parts of seven campaigns as a Knicks assistant before succeeding Don Nelson as head coach in March 1996. Van Gundy guided New York to the 1999 NBA Finals, which remains the franchise's most recent appearance in the championship series.
Tiago Splitter served as Portland's interim head coach after the NBA placed Chauncey Billups on leave following his arrest on gambling-related charges.
Splitter posted a 42-40 record and led the Blazers to their first playoff appearance in five years during his lone season in charge.
