Former Houston Rockets coach JB Bickerstaff fired by Cleveland Cavaliers

JB Bickerstaff leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers.

According to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers fired Bickerstaff Thursday morning after five seasons with the team.

This year, Bickerstaff won his first playoff series against the Orlando Magic in seven games, but he was unable to lead his team to victory against the Boston Celtics, falling in five games to first place in the Eastern Conference .

Bickerstaff, 45, went 170-159 during his tenure with the Cavaliers. Before joining Cleveland, Bickerstaff was the interim head coach of the Houston Rockets during the 2015-16 season, succeeding Kevin McHale, who was fired after 11 games. He also coached the Memphis Grizzlies from 2017 to 2019, but struggled and finished with a 48-97 mark during his time there.

Wojnarowski also reported that former Rockets coaching candidate Kenny Atkinson, currently an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, will be interviewed by the Cavaliers for their vacant head coaching position.

As for Bickerstaff, there is an opening with the Los Angeles Lakers for their coaching position, but they are already in talks with several candidates. Bickerstaff is more likely to find an assistant job for the upcoming season and then be around for vacant head coaching positions the following year.

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