Feb. 6, 2021Updated: Feb. 6, 2021 7:43 p.m.
Juan Toscano-Anderson of the Golden State Warriors in the first half against the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 25, 2020.
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty ImagesIn the second quarter of Saturday night’s Golden State Warriors-Dallas Mavericks game on ABC, play-by-play commentator Mike Breen told a perfectly nice story about Juan Toscano-Anderson’s impressive journey to the NBA – which was promptly ruined by color commentator Jeff Van Gundy.
As Breen retold, Toscano-Anderson is from East Oakland, and he went to high school just 20 minutes from Oracle Arena. After a four-year college career at Marquette, he bounced around for pro teams in Mexico and Venezuela, then made it to the NBA’s G League, then got his shot with the Warriors. The 27-year-old swingman is now in his second season with the Dubs and has become an integral part of the team’s rotation.
Van Gundy initially made a useful contribution to the conversation, noting how difficult Toscano-Anderson was to game plan against when Van Gundy was coaching the U.S. Men’s National select team and Toscano-Anderson was playing for the Mexico national team.
But after Breen explained why Toscano-Anderson wears No. 95 — which is to honor his grandparents as well as Oakland’s 95th Avenue, where he grew up — Van Gundy interjected with a poorly thought-out stand-up bit.
“Well if I ever make the NBA,” Van Gundy said, “I’m going to [wear] 612, because that was my address in Martinez: 612 Blue Ridge Drive … if they’re going to allow 95, then they better allow 612 Blue Ridge Drive. I want it all on there.”
Sometimes, the best move is to say nothing at all.
