Jeff Van Gundy was on an ESPN conference call Wednesday to preview the NBA season. Naturally, though, he was asked about his comments earlier this week to USA Today’s Michael Hiestand. He claimed the league blocked ESPN from hiring his brother, Stan, for a studio job.

From the call:

Q. I realize you do have bosses on the phone, but how would you characterize ‑‑

Van Gundy:  You think?  (Laughing.)

Q. How would you characterize the feedback that you received from that piece, either internally at ESPN or within NBA circles?  And I ask that because it’s just rare that we see somebody talk about how truthful, really truthful broadcasters can be on the air.

Van Gundy:  Well, I think this:  As I pointed out in that article, ESPN has been really, really good to me, and even after things that I said that some of them may have agreed or disagreed with, they’ve never really tried to squash my opinions.  And yet I think you can probably understand, I wasn’t really looking for a reaction from the outside to either support or disagree.  I just said what I felt was my truth.  From ESPN it’s been fine.  I haven’t heard anything positive or negative.

But from an individual standpoint, I really ‑‑ I said what I said, and now I really want to move forward and not really go back and rehash my opinions.

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Earlier, Van Gundy was asked whether Stan still would venture into broadcasting this year?

Van Gundy:  I think he has some opportunities in radio, and then I think he may try to do some stuff, either college basketball or some work with an NBA team.  But I don’t think anything has been solidified.

But I think he’d like to dip his toe in the water and see if, one, he likes it, and two, if he finds it fulfilling, because I think when you do get fired, there is a grieving period you go through as a coach, and I think he’s trying to figure out what’s next.

Whatever he decides, he’s smart, he’s hard‑working, he’ll figure it out.

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Van Gundy continued to stand by his brother over what happened in Orlando. When asked the Magic future, he threw in a dig about management.

Van Gundy: As for me, I think they arguably have as good a team as they had last year going into the Playoffs when Howard was out.  And I think they competed hard in that series, and I think you’ll see Orlando play exceptionally hard.