J. B. Bickerstaff helped transform a fledgling franchise into a contender in his last job. (More Sports News)
The Pistons have finished in last place in the Central Division each of the last four seasons and have missed the play-offs 13 of the last 15 seasons. They haven't won a play-off series since 2008
J. B. Bickerstaff helped transform a fledgling franchise into a contender in his last job. (More Sports News)
The Pistons are hoping he can do the same in Detroit.
The Pistons hired Bickerstaf🧔f as coach on Sunday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Terms of the deal were not reported.
Bickerstaff becomes Detroit's third coach in as many seasons after Monty Williams was fired on June 19 after going an NBA-worst 14-68 in only season on the sidelines♎.
The Pistons had given Williams a six-year, $78.5million contract last June after he was fired by the Phoenix Suns following the 2022-23 season.
At the time, the deal 🌸was the richest ever for an NBA head coach.
Under Williams, however, Detroit struggled mightily, setti♏ng an NBA single-season record by losing 28 straight games after opening 2-1ܫ.
The Pistons have finished in last place in the Central Division each of the last four seasons and have missed the play-offs 13 of the last 15 seasons. They haven't won a play-off serieღs since 2008.
Detroit is desperate for a change in direction having been in turmoil for more than a decade, and Bickerstaf🌊f recently helped turn a struggling franchise around, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first play-off series win in six years las💃t month.
Despite reaching the 🐼second round of the play-offs, the Cavaliers fඣired Bickerstaff on May 23.
In five seasons in Cleveland, Bickerstaff went 170-159 and led the franchise to the play-offs each of t💙he last two years. He was under contract through 2026.
In 2023-24, the 45ꩲ-year-old Bickerstaff helped direct Cleveland to a 48-34 record and the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference play-offs.
The Cavs then beat the Orlando Magic in the first round for the franchise's first play-off series win since the team lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals. It also marked Cleveland's first trip to the confeꦛrence semi-finals without LeBron James on the roster since 1992-93.
The Cavs' season ended in the conference semis, where they 😼lost to the future NBA-champion Boston Celtics in five games.
Bickerstaff's team, however, was significantly undermanned with five-timeꩲ All-Star Donovan Mitchell missing the final two game☂s against the Celtics with a left calf strain and fellow All-Star Jarrett Allen missing the last eight play-off games due to a right rib contusion.
Bickerstaff now joins a young Pistons team that includes 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham and the fifth overall pick of this year's draft,&nb𝄹sp💦;Ron Holland II.