By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Cleveland Cavaliers parted ways with J. B. Bickerstaff. The decision to move on from the 45-year-old play-caller was announced on Thursday.
“J.B. is a well-respected NBA coach and an incredible human being,” said President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman, “Over the past four years, he helped establish a culture that progressively drove players to become the best versions of themselves. Decisions like these are never easy, particularly when you look back at where this franchise rebuild started under his leadership.”
Kenny Atkinson and James Borrego are candidates to replace Bickerstaff at the Cavs, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Potential new head coaches will be listed within the next few days by Altman and GM Mike Gansey, added ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
In the 2024 NBA Playoffs Presented by Google Pixel, the Cavaliers edged out the Orlando Magic in seven games to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2018. Falling to the Boston Celtics in five games marked the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign.
Taking over head-coaching responsibilities in 2020, Bickerstaff guided the Cavs to 176 wins in 346 outings between the Regular Season and the Playoffs. He previously worked as the Memphis Grizzlies head coach from 2017 to 2019 and was the interim head coach of the Houston Rockets for most of the 2015-16 season. As an assistant, his experience expands from the Cavaliers, Grizzlies, and Rockets to earlier stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Bobcats.