With the Eastern Conference Finals airing exclusively on TNT, the broadcast team of Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Stan Van Gundy will spend the entire series sharing their expertise on both the Celtics and Heat.
Van Gundy, in particular, has a unique level of familiarity with Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and the vaunted #HeatCulture — nearly 30 years' worth of familiarity, to be more specific.
Where does Van Gundy's history with the Heat begin? The Sporting News takes a look back at his strong connection to the franchise.
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Stan Van Gundy's connections with the Heat, explained
When Riley took over as the Heat's head coach ahead of the 1995-96 season, he hired Van Gundy as an assistant coach to fill out his staff. Elsewhere on Riley's staff was Spoelstra, who also joined the franchise in 1995 as the team's video coordinator.
Following the 2002-03 season, Riley stepped down from his post as head coach while holding his role as team president. Van Gundy stepped in as his successor ahead of the 2003-04 season, and Spoelstra moved up a seat on Miami's bench.
During Van Gundy's first season as head coach in Miami, the roster featured Dwyane Wade, Malik Allen, Caron Butler and Udonis Haslem. Allen and Butler are currently assistant coaches on Spoelstra's staff, and Haslem is in his 20th NBA season with Miami.
Riley and the Heat added Shaquille O'Neal to the roster during the 2004 offseason, with Van Gundy leading the way. That season also saw the Heat bring back Alonzo Mourning, who is now the team's Vice President of Player Programs and Development.
Van Gundy would stay in the head coaching role for one more full season before resigning in December 2005.
Riley stepped back into the head coaching role and led the franchise to its first-ever NBA title in 2006. Following the 2007-08 season, Riley stepped down from coaching for good, making way for Spoelstra to accept his first-ever head coaching job.
In the last 28 years, the Heat have had three head coaches: Riley, Van Gundy and Spoelstra. The continuity has cultivated the culture.
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Stan Van Gundy's Eastern Conference Finals connections
With respect to the TNT broadcast crew and the Eastern Conference Finals, there are parallels galore.
During his time in Miami, Van Gundy worked with Spoelstra and coached Allen, Butler, O'Neal and Antoine Walker, each of whom was on hand for Game 2 at the TD Garden.
To add another parallel, Van Gundy and the Heat faced Miller's Pacers in the 2004 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Heat Culture runs deep, and although Van Gundy has long been disassociated with the franchise, he'll always be connected.
