Stan Van Gundy self-labels as ‘poster boy for white privilege,’ says poor whites in racial denial

New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy has a message for white people: “We’re the ones that are racist.”

The newly-minted member of the “NBA Coaches For Racial Justice” committee recently told ESPN that white people should embrace total culpability for racial strife in the U.S.

“It’s a white person’s problem that affects people of color, and so we’re the ones who have to change,” he said for a pre-Christmas interview with The Undefeated. “You alienate a lot of people when you talk about white privilege because a lot of people out there who, I get it, they don’t feel privileged. They don’t have money. … You may not have an easy life, but you’re not oppressed simply because of the color of your skin. That’s the difference.”

Mr. Van Gundy’s comments come as the basketball league continues a months-long defense of its outspoken Black Lives Matter activism.  

“I’m a poster boy for white privilege,” Van Gundy asserted. “I’ve led a privileged life, so I only know about these issues, and these problems, and these inequities from people I’ve been associated with, work with, know, care about.

Rivers was fired by the Detroit Pistons in 2018 before getting a job offer from the Pelicans in October.

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers applauded his peer’s message.

“His passion was real, it was consistent, and it was awesome,” Rivers said of Van Gundy’s behind-the-scenes BLM support.

“He was pushing coaches daily on what they should be doing,” Rivers said. “He was printing and sending us information daily about any social justice stuff.”