Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
Pistons hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as new head coach after firing Monty Williams
By Jared Schwartz,
4 hours ago
J.B. Bickerstaff wasn’t out of a job for long.
The 45-year-old has agreed to a five-year deal to become the Pistons’ new head coach, according to ESPN .
Bickerstaff was fired by the Cavaliers last month after five seasons with the team despite leading them to back-to-back playoff appearances the past two years and a run to the Eastern Conference semifinals this past year — the farthest they had gone in six years.
The Pistons are hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as their new head coach. AP
The Pistons head-coaching job opened up after they fired Monty Williams earlier this month after just one season.
He had signed a six-year, $78.5 million deal last year, the largest ever contract for a coach in NBA history.
But they finished with a woeful 14-68 record last year — dead last in the Eastern Conference — and at one point had a 28-game losing streak, the longest single-season skid in NBA history.
Bickerstaff originally took over the Cavaliers job as an interim during the 2019-20 season after Jon Beilein resigned, and he subsequently kept the job.
The Pistons fired Monty Williams just one year after he signed a record-breaking contract. AP
He recorded a 170-159 record with the Cavaliers and went 6-11 in the playoffs.
Cleveland replaced Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson.
The Pistons cleaned house after the season, firing general manager Troy Weaver in addition to Williams.
They hired Trajan Langdon as their new president of basketball operations in May, and he seemingly was impressed with Bickerstaff.
It’s been a busy few days for Langdon, who selected Ron Holland II with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday.
This job marks Bickerstaff’s fourth head-coaching job — he spent part of a season with the Rockets in 2015-16, where he had a 37-34 record, and two seasons with the Grizzlies from 2017-19, where he struggled to a 48-97 combined record.
For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Local Detroit, MI
Most Popular
Comments / 0