Players say he has changed since Dwight Howard asked the coach last month to limit the negativity. Van Gundy even sent out holidays cards complete with a candy apple to every member of the organization.
"He's making a big effort to be a little more positive, and we appreciate that," point guard Jameer Nelson said. "And I think we're playing better, so he has less to scream and yell about."
Meet the New Van Gundy.
Still fiery as ever, the coach admits he's trying to take a different approach with players. Just don't expect him to be Mr. Relaxed, especially not with the Magic gearing up for a Christmas Day matchup against the Eastern Conference leading Boston Celtics.
That's not his style.
He still takes personal pride in every play -- covering his face, pulling his hair and stomping his feet -- and notices even the smallest details. There is rarely a mistake that players won't hear about from Van Gundy.
Only now they say he's not as volatile.
Rashard Lewis tested that formula during Orlando's victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday, when the All-Star forward had an in-bounds pass stolen in the final minutes. The turnover nearly cost the Magic the win.
"I told him if I was the old me, I would've thrown a chair at him," Van Gundy joked. "But since I'm the new me, I just called timeout, and I bit my lip and tried to keep from saying anything."
But some things never change.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, an assistant under Van Gundy during his tenure in Miami, laughed at the notion that the Magic coach is suddenly going to stop showing his emotions. Spoelstra sees Van Gundy's attitude as a positive for Orlando -- a passionate coach who demands perfection.
Spoelstra even sent him a text message when he first heard that Van Gundy was working to curb the negativity.
"I said, 'Geez, Mr. Positive Calm Guy, why didn't we get that guy when I worked for you?"' Spoelstra said.
All this began when Howard asked Van Gundy, among other things, to limit the negativity because it was draining players. That private chat, which is almost a daily routine for the star player and coach, took place in mid-November.
Howard said it's been a whole new coach since.
"You just have to understand as players, some guys can take you yelling at them and other guys can't, and I think Stan has done an excellent job this year understanding that," Howard said. "When you got Stan and he's not yelling and he's not doing anything to be negative, then you're more willing."
The differences so far have been subtle.
Van Gundy's postgame news conferences used to be must-see rants filled with witty jokes. Lately, they've been tailed back after he's glanced over the stat sheet to look for positive trends.
Of course, when he feels his team isn't giving enough effort, he's not afraid to call players out.
During an interview between quarters against Miami on an ESPN broadcast earlier this month, Van Gundy railed his team's effort. The Magic were getting blown out, eventually losing by 18 points in a game that wasn't even that close, and his sarcastic criticism of the team was replayed countless times.
He's just not such an in-your-face coach in practice, players said, and he's been more constructive with criticism. Van Gundy said he's made it a point to be more positive and believes it has made him a better coach.
"It helps me," Van Gundy said. "I've been focused on the next task a little better. I don't know how much I've changed, but I've changed some."
Either way, Van Gundy's way wins.
He led the Magic to only their second NBA finals last season, took Miami to the 2005 Eastern Conference finals and has helped Orlando to division titles in his first two years. The Magic (22-7) are only two games back of Boston (22-5) in the loss column after overcoming major injuries, illnesses and a 10-game suspension by Lewis.
Players don't expect a complete turnaround from Van Gundy, and they don't want one either.
Howard said he asks Van Gundy to stay on him every day because "I can take it." He just appreciates that Van Gundy has shown he's willing to adapt.
But Howard also expects bigger changes from his coach as the season progresses.
"For anybody, you can't stop what you've been doing if you've been going it for a while," Howard said. "He's been doing an excellent job this year, this season, relaxing, being patient, letting us play basketball."
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