Jeff Van Gundy Downplays Khloe Kardashian's Role in 2017 NBA Finals

ESPN NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy took aim Friday night at those who pinned Tristan Thompson's underwhelming play in the first three games of the NBA Finals on his girlfriend, Khloe Kardashian. 

"The debate about whether his significant other, Khloe Kardashian, and the Kardashian curse is the reason, to me, is downright low rent," Van Gundy said during the first quarter of ABC's Game 4 broadcast.

"My thing is this: When LeBron James struggled in 2011 in those Finals, did we say it was his significant other that caused him to not succeed? Or last year with Steph Curry. Was it Steph Curry's wife when he didn't play up to standard? No, this Kardashian shaming is because she's an easy target." 

His relationship with Kardashian aside, Thompson's inability to make an impact in the Cavaliers' losses in Games 1-3 was glaring.

During that stretch, he went scoreless twice (Games 1 and 3) and didn't grab more than four rebounds in a game. 

However, he remedied those woes early in Game 4 when he piled up two points, a series-high five rebounds and two assists during his opening eight-minute run in the first quarter.