The Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Thursday after three straight winning seasons.
The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in six years this season before falling to the Boston Celtics in five games in an injury-marred series.
Bickerstaff, 45, compiled a record of 170-159 since replacing John Beilein in February 2020.
After going 22-50 in his first full season, the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, the Cavaliers improved to 44-38 in 2021-22 and 51-31 in 2022-23 before finishing 48-34 this season.
“J.B. is a well-respected NBA coach and an incredible human being,” president of basketball operations Koby Altman said. “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.”
The Cavaliers earned the East’s No. 4 seed this season and defeated the Orlando Magic in the opening round before falling to the top-seeded Celtics. All-Star Donovan Mitchell missed the last two games against the Celtics and center Jarrett Allen missed the entire series with injuries.
The victory against the Magic was the first playoff series win for the Cavaliers since LeBron James led them to four straight NBA Finals appearances from 2015-18.
Bickerstaff previously coached the Houston Rockets (37-34 in 2015-16) and Memphis Grizzlies (48-97 from 2017-19) before taking over in Cleveland.
–Field Level Media
Charles Lee clocked in as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday after helping the Boston Celtics secure the NBA title last week. Lee was introduced formally at a…
New Bulls point guard Josh Giddey touched down briefly in Chicago on Sunday and was formally introduced on Tuesday before he embarks on his next mission with the Australian national…
Celtics president Brad Stevens faces a short turnaround from the NBA championship celebration to the first round of the draft on Wednesday night. But with 11 players under contract and…
Bulls PG Josh Giddey welcomed trade over backup role in OKC
Champion Celtics enter draft, free agency with few needs
Maryland-Georgetown renewing hoops rivalry in 2025
Wings bring back veteran G Odyssey Sims