Stan Van Gundy never thought he was in danger in the wake of reports that mail bombs, apparently intended for critics of President Donald Trump, were intercepted by authorities this week.

But in a Saturday text exchange with the Free Press, it’s clear he thinks rhetoric from the nation’s 45th president is a root cause of the toxic atmosphere that hangs over today’s political discourse.

“While the attacks are not his fault, (as it was not the fault of liberals that some whack job shot at Republican congressmen playing softball) Trump is the first president in my lifetime who has spoken the way he does and created an atmosphere encouraging attacking your enemies,” wrote Van Gundy, a vocal Trump critic during his coaching tenure with the Detroit Pistons.

On Friday, authorities charged a Florida man with the mailing of 13 bomb-like devices to prominent Democrats and Trump critics.

Cesar Altieri Sayoc, 56, was identified by authorities as being responsible for the mailings to former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, among others. Trump denounced the mail bombs as "terrorizing acts."

Van Gundy, along with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, has not hidden his disdain for Trump’s antics on the campaign trail and later in the White House.

Reporters asked Kerr on Friday whether he was concerned.

“Concerned for myself? A little bit,” Kerr said, before the Warriors’ victory over the New York Knicks.

“I think we should all be concerned. No matter who you are, you need to be concerned. Not just with the bombs, but just the issue in the country we live in, innocent people getting killed, innocent people getting shot. It’s a dangerous time to be alive.”

When asked if he was ever concerned about his safety or his family’s, Van Gundy joked: “Never thought about it. Now you’re scaring me.”

But he wasn’t joking in citing examples of Trump’s rhetoric.

Trump praised a congressman for body slamming a journalist.

He considered paying the legal fees of an assailant who sucker-punched a protester at a campaign rally.

He has demonized the news media on numerous occasions.

“He can’t hide from his responsibility in creating an atmosphere of violence,” wrote Van Gundy, who recently accepted a position with ESPN. He coached the Pistons from 2014-18.

Rookie’s time?

It was nothing but net for Pistons rookie Khyri Thomas in morning shooting drills before Saturday night’s game against the Boston Celtics.

His 3-point shot looked easy and effortless, and Pistons coach Dwane Casey said there’s a chance he could be called in to help mitigate the short-term absence of Luke Kennard, who suffered a right-shoulder sprain against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thomas, a swingman, received little playing time in the preseason; two-way contract player Zach Lofton received a lot of playing time.

Lofton even appeared briefly in the Pistons’ close season-opening win against the Brooklyn Nets.

Casey revealed Thomas fell behind because of nagging injuries in the offseason. He suffered a right hamstring injury during Las Vegas Summer League action.

Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.