Stan Van Gundy has spent the past five years away from coaching and front-office responsibilities, devoting more time to broadcasting. The shift has allowed him to reflect on the pivotal moments of his coaching career, yet one decision continues to overshadow the rest. It is a moment that shaped his view of his legacy and underscored the fine margins that separate stability from upheaval
Stan Van Gundy Discusses the Draft Decision That Still Haunts Him
Van Gundy served as president of basketball operations and head coach of the Detroit Pistons from 2014 to 2018, overseeing the team’s draft decisions and personnel matters. In a recent episode of “The Zach Lowe Show” podcast, he acknowledged a 2015 draft choice that continues to trouble him: selecting Stanley Johnson over Devin Booker.
“If I had drafted him in Detroit, I might still be coaching,” Van Gundy said. “Every time Devin Booker has a great game, I kick myself — physically kick myself — just to make sure I feel that pain.”
Stan Van Gundy on drafting Stanley Johnson over Devin Booker
“If I had drafted him in Detroit, I might still be coaching. Every time Devin Booker has a great game, I kick myself — physically kick myself— just to make sure I feel that pain.”
H/T The Zach Lowe Show pic.twitter.com/rYRlZUecNV
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) December 4, 2025
The Pistons held the No. 8 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and selected Stanley Johnson out of Arizona. Devin Booker was taken five picks later by the Phoenix Suns. That was not Van Gundy’s only draft regret; he also lamented choosing Luke Kennard over Donovan Mitchell in 2017.
Johnson had an underwhelming career, spending three and a half seasons with the Pistons and averaging 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. He later bounced around the league, playing for the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers, before finishing his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs in 2022-23. Meanwhile, Booker has been a consistent star, averaging double figures in scoring since his rookie season and earning four All-Star selections with Phoenix.
Van Gundy, however, has coached several stars during his career, most notably during his tenure with Dwight Howard in Orlando. Howard credited Van Gundy with shaping him into a Hall of Fame player, saying, “Because of you, I am in the Hall of Fame … there is no Dwight Howard without Stan Van Gundy.”
Yet none of that lessens the sting of 2015. Van Gundy’s reflections reveal a coach who still measures his career by a decision he believes altered everything. His honesty about that regret offers a rare glimpse into how deeply one moment can shape an entire professional path.
