Stan Van Gundy and Tom Thibodeau are well acquainted, and have spent time recently in Auburn Hills together.
Leading up to the opening of an NBA season, NBA coaches will often talk with their counterparts, previous coaches, and even college coaches. Stan Van Gundy has been a part of two other teams prior to his time in Detroit and has a brother who was also a coach. So it should be no surprise that Van Gundy had Tom Thibodeau in Auburn Hills earlier this summer.
SVG had Tom Thibodeau in recently, hopes to get him back to observe.