Juan Toscano-Anderson of the Golden State Warriors in the first half against the Sacramento Kings on February 25, 2020.
Lachlan Cunningham / Getty ImagesIn the second quarter of the Golden State Warriors-Dallas Mavericks game on ABC on Saturday night, play-by-play commentator Mike Breen told a perfectly beautiful story about Juan Toscano-Anderson’s impressive journey to the NBA – which was promptly ruined by color commentator Jeff From Gundy.
As Breen retold, Toscano-Anderson is from East Oakland, and attended high school just 20 minutes from Oracle Arena. After a four-year college career with Marquette, he bounced around for professional teams in Mexico and Venezuela, then made it to the NBA’s G League before getting his shot at 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 play against when Van Gundy coached the US Men’s National Select team and Toscano-Anderson played for the Mexican national team.
But after Breen explained why Toscano-Anderson wears # 95 – that’s to honor his grandparents, as well as Oakland’s 95th Avenue, where he grew up – Van Gundy intervened with an ill-considered point of view.
“If I ever make it to the NBA,” said Van Gundy, “I will [wear] 612, because that was my address in Martinez: 612 Blue Ridge Drive … if they allow 95, they better allow 612 Blue Ridge Drive. I want to have it all on. “
Sometimes the best move is to say nothing at all.