Detroit Pistons: J.B. Bickerstaff Emerges as Coaching Candidate
By Phil Watson
The Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday, May 8, that the Detroit Pistons were interviewing a fourth candidate for their vacant head coaching position, Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Bickerstaff is the first candidate to interview since the Pistons retained Phil Jackson as a consultant during the search process. Jackson began his duties on Tuesday.
Houston Rockets assistant J.B. Bickerstaff has been interviewed for the vacant head coaching position for the Detroit Pistons, according to the Detroit Free Press. (NBA.com photo)
Bickerstaff is the fourth candidate to interview, joining former Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, San Antonio Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer and Phoenix Suns interim coach—and longtime Pistons guard—Lindsey Hunter.
If the name seems familiar, it should. Bickerstaff is the son of longtime NBA coach and executive Bernie Bickerstaff, currently an assistant for Mike D’Antoni with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The younger Bickerstaff, 34, joined the NBA coaching ranks as an assistant to his father with the Charlotte Bobcats—also coaching Charlotte’s Summer League teams in 2005 and 2006, before moving on to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2007. He joined Kevin McHale’s staff with the Rockets in 2011.
At 34, Bickerstaff would be the youngest coach in the NBA. Jacque Vaughn of the Orlando Magic, 38, currently holds that distinction.
Bickerstaff played collegiately at Oregon State and Minnesota, averaging 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in his two seasons with the Golden Gophers. After college, he was the director of operations for Minnesota’s men’s basketball program and provided color analysis for the Timberwolves’ radio broadcasts in 2003-04 before joining his father’s staff with the expansion Bobcats.
At the time he joined the Charlotte staff, Bickerstaff was the youngest assistant coach in the NBA, a distinction his father once held when he joined K.C. Jones’ staff with the Capital Bullets in 1973. Bernie Bickerstaff was coach of the SuperSonics from 1985-90, led the Denver Nuggets for parts of three seasons from 1994-96 and also coached the Washington Bullets/Wizards for parts of three seasons from 1996-99 before taking the Charlotte job as both coach and general manager.
Most recently, the elder Bickerstaff served as interim coach of the Lakers after Mike Brown’s firing last November until D’Antoni joined the team.
According to the Free Press report, the Pistons are also interested in interviews with Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Maurice Cheeks—a former head coach of the Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers—and Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw.
At 34, it might seem Bickerstaff’s lack of experience could work against him in the hiring process. On the other hand, though, he literally grew up around the NBA, so Bickerstaff would have an understanding of how the league works that would be far greater than his age might otherwise indicate.
Detroit’s lead chair on the bench has been a revolving door under Joe Dumars’ direction—since he took over the day-to-day operations of the team in 2000, the Pistons have had seven coaches: George Irvine (32-50), Rick Carlisle (100-64), Larry Brown (108-56), Flip Saunders (176-70), Michael Curry (39-43), John Kuester (57-107) and Lawrence Frank (54-94).
With a young core featuring big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond and guard Brandon Knight, perhaps a younger coach might be able to better relate to the squad. That is, if Dumars can avoid getting an itchy pink-slip finger for more than a season or two.