By Jordan
The Cleveland Cavaliers stand at 19-46, the worst team in the Eastern Conference. It has been a down season for Cleveland, but they have decided to keep head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The contract will keep him in Cleveland until the end of the 2024 season.
Bickerstaff took over the head coaching duties on February 19th. This was after John Beilein decided to part ways with the organization. This was Beilein’s first year as the Head Coach. Cleveland was a disappointing 14-40 under him. Cleveland gave the Head Coaching duties to Bickerstaff without the interim tag.
The top reason Bickerstaff took over was his history of being an NBA Head Coach for the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. On November 18th, 2015, the Rockets fired Head Coach Kevin McHale. At the time Houston’s record was 4-7. The Rockets named Bickerstaff as the Interim Head Coach. The Rockets finished 37-34 under him. Bickerstaff led them to the playoffs but lost in the 1st-round to the Golden State Warriors. Houston didn’t retain him and Bickerstaff went to Memphis to be an assistant coach.
He spent two years with Memphis before taking over as Head Coach on November 27th, 2017. Memphis let go of David Fizdale. At the time Memphis was 7-12. Bickerstaff finished the year 15-48. Instead of hiring a new coach to take over, Memphis gave Bickerstaff the full-time gig but it only lasted one more season. Memphis went 33-49 in the 2018 to 2019 season.
Since taking over for Cleveland, the Cavaliers have played improved basketball. It may not show in the standings but they are 5-6 under him. Cleveland wants Bickerstaff to stay around a long time to help turn the franchise around.
According to ESPN, Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman said, “We are very fortunate to have someone of J.B.’s caliber and basketball pedigree lead our franchise as head coach. His wealth of experience, coupled with the respect he has garnered around the NBA and with this team, has made for a seamless transition from associate head coach to head coach.”
Cleveland is hoping Bickerstaff is the right man for the job. They have not been to the postseason since 2018 when they had LeBron James and lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. They will miss it again this year. With this contract, Bickerstaff has plenty of time to turn the Cavaliers back into a winning organization.
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