You just knew Jeff Van Gundy wouldn’t be able to keep his mouth shut about ESPN’s decision not to hire his brother, Stan. In an interview with Michael Hiestand of USA Today, Jeff calls out the NBA:

Jeff, who hadn’t previously spoken publicly on the issue until an interview with USA TODAY Sports, says his brother “had a basic agreement” to become an ESPN/ABC analyst in the marquee studio shows that wrap around game coverage: “And then something changed. There’s certainly circumstantial evidence that something from the outside — presumably the NBA — changed (ESPN’s) thinking. … I was happy when they came to an agreement and shocked when they pulled their offer.”

Later, Jeff said:

 “As a broadcaster of the NBA, it give you pause,” Jeff says. “How forthcoming can you be? You don’t want your honesty to cost you a chance at employment.This is a shot across the bow.”

Jeff’s big picture: “This is an organization that’s treated me great. But this raises interesting questions about what a (league-network) partnership means. You have to realize, as a fan, you’re not getting the whole truth. … It seems like there are certain people in each sport that (TV) can’t criticize, or you can’t criticize the league itself. That’s what impressed me when (ESPN’s) Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden criticized the NFL over replacement refs. That (Commissioner) Roger Goodell didn’t throw a hissy fit at ESPN was impressive.”

The bottom line: The NBA, and other sports leagues, do have a say over who gets hired. Stan Van Gundy has been a vocal critic of NBA Commissioner David Stern. Did he go too far on occasion? Once, he compared Stern to Moammar Gadhafi in terms of free speech in the league.

Perhaps that comment came back to bite to Stan Van Gundy.

As for Jeff? He probably has a point. However, I don’t think the NBA will have a problem if it thinks the criticism is fair. The problems occur when analysts go over the line.

Just to be safe, Jeff, don’t compare Stern to anyone.