Josh Hart Called Stan Van Gundy the Worst Coach He’s Ever Had. He Meant It.

Josh Hart doesn’t hold back often. But when he does, it’s worth listening.

On the latest episode of the Roommates podcast, which he co-hosts with Jalen Brunson, Hart went there. He called Stan Van Gundy the worst coach he’s ever played for. Not just bottom of the list. By far the worst.

“Stan’s by far the worst,” Hart said. Then he added a layer of nuance that makes the quote stick: “I like both of those guys, and yes, I do like Stan. I hated playing for him, but as a person, I like Stan.”

So it’s not personal. It’s professional. And that distinction matters.

Hart’s miserable season under Van Gundy in New Orleans

Hart was on the Pelicans from 2019 to 2022. Van Gundy coached them for one season, 2020-21. That team went 31-41, finished fourth in the Southwest Division and missed the playoffs entirely.

Hart played in just 47 games that year, starting four of them. Both were career lows at the time. He averaged 9.2 points, 8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in limited minutes. That’s not a guy who felt trusted or featured.

It’s easy to see why he didn’t enjoy it. He wasn’t given much of a chance to prove himself, and the team wasn’t winning. That’s a rough combo.

How Hart bounced back after Van Gundy

The following season, Hart was traded midyear to the Portland Trail Blazers. He started 53 of 54 games he played that season between the two teams. That’s the kind of role he wanted all along.

Then in the 2022-23 season, Hart landed with the Knicks. That reunited him with Brunson. It’s the best thing that could have happened to his career.

Since arriving in New York, the Knicks have made the playoffs every year. Those are the only four playoff trips of Hart’s entire career. Coincidence? Probably not.

This past season, the Knicks won the NBA Finals. They went 12-2 combined through the first three rounds and beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games. Hart averaged 7.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in the Finals. Not flashy numbers, but they won. That’s what matters.

So when Hart says Van Gundy was the worst, it’s not just sour grapes from a guy who didn’t get minutes. It’s a guy who figured out how to win somewhere else, under different coaches, and knows the difference between a system that works and one that doesn’t.