Quotes from Jeff Van Gundy

One of my college roommates was into The Police, and I got to like them. But I hear one of the guys left the band.

Sometimes you try to change, and you go backwards.

There have been people who said I was a Pat Riley clone. But I don't think that's true. While I did learn a lot from him, I could never be him. I mean, we even dress so differently.

Only once did someone talking about my appearance bother me.

D'Antoni can be successful playing slow or fast because he is a bright guy who has very creative ideas.

Among the hardest-working players I've ever been associated, Yao stands at the very top of the list. Beyond that, though, here's what truly separated him from everyone else: His ability to enjoy other people's successes.

It's staggering how many players, even with the sums of money they make, don't do a great job of saving it.

Phil Jackson was a brilliant basketball coach, not just because of the offense that he employed, but it was so many other things that went into it.

It's hard to change a roster around. You've got to hit your draft picks right, you've gotta hit free agency right, and a team's got to fit together.

Chicken parm is hard to beat.

Christmas Day is a big day for NBA basketball.

As great of a player as Yao was, he was kind and patient with everybody. He wasn't trying to feed an image or cultivate a brand or manipulate a public persona.

Players and coaches alike, you sign up for 82 games. You get paid for 82.

You would never find a coach in any sport more giving of his time than Coach Parcells to other New York coaches.

I miss coaching - certain elements of coaching.

I don't know about any others, but coaching basketball is the only thing I can do.

In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But comparing people of different eras... that's next to impossible.

My one suggestion going forward is, any felony committed against a woman should be a full-season suspension.

My intensity is my greatest strength. It's also my greatest weakness.

All you try to do in any system you incorporate is put players in their areas of strength and try to hide and minimize their weaknesses.

At first, you can play into the naivete that people think you have because you don't dress well. They almost give you the benefit of the doubt. But when success comes, that's no longer a good angle, so now you're 'a political animal.'

I think anybody confusing a system with a reason for success is making a huge mistake. Systems don't win games. Players do.

Goaltending was brought in because of Mikan and Chamberlain. So rules do change for specific players, in concert with a need to stay up to date on how coaches are taking advantage of the rules.

I think everyone talks about talent. It's really one of the most overused terms. It comes down to, do you play, and do you win? Talent is one factor, but certainly not the only one.