J.B. Bickerstaff now second in tenure among East coaches

J.B Bickerstaff had done it again. For the third time in his career, he was the lead assistant when the head coach of an NBA team was fired (technically John Beilein “resigned” to take another role in the organization). Bickerstaff took over a Cleveland Cavaliers team that was floundering and oversaw them for just 11 games before COVID-19 shut down the league in March of 2020.

Whether the front office saw something from Bickerstaff in those few games or took the easy route in the midst of a global pandemic, Bickerstaff was handed the full-time keys to the team. He responded by instilling a team culture, overseeing the development of many young players and, this past season, coaching the team to 51 wins and the franchise’s first playoff berth without LeBron James in 25 years.

J.B. Bickerstaff has quickly become the old hat in the coaching room

When Bickerstaff began coaching in 2020, the Eastern Conference was stocked with successful and proven head coaches. Nick Nurse was coaching the defending champions in Toronto, Mike Budenholzer had transformed the Milwaukee Bucks into a perennial contender, and Dwane Casey was overseeing the rebuild in Detroit. All three of those coaches were fired or reassigned this past summer.

In fact, the Eastern Conference has been a maelstrom of chaos around Bickerstaff, who with his 3.5 seasons of tenure is suddenly the picture of longevity. When Bickerstaff took over, Doc Rivers was still coaching the LA Clippers and Nate McMillan the Indiana Pacers; both have since been fired from the next job they took after being fired from those jobs.

Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics moved into the front office, and the Celtics have since suspended and let go one head coach and could move on from another in Joe Mazzula this offseason. The Atlanta Hawks have fired two coaches, as have the Philadelphia 76ers. The Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls all have new coaches too.

In fact, the only head coach in the entire Eastern Conference who had his job prior to Bickerstaff taking over is Erik Spoelstra with the Miami Heat. Spoelstra, the second-longest tenured head coach in the entire NBA, has been with Miami for 15 seasons and is once again displaying his tactical brilliance in leading the Heat deep into the playoffs.

For many fans of the Cavs and basketball in general, Bickerstaff seems like something of a young, new coach. “Get someone with more experience!” many fans have demanded. Yet when looking at the churn around him, Bickerstaff has quickly become the coach with experience.

Will he stand the test of time, or will his name come up next on the head coach chopping block? It’s hard to say; Bickerstaff has excelled at player development and leadership, but his tactical adjustments and offensive creativity haven’t been elite. His postseason track record is certainly shaky. Can he improve, or will he be out next season?

If the latter, his name will be yet another on the long list of coaches sacrificed to the win-now NBA. You can win games, make the playoffs every season, and even win an NBA title, but the call of the NBA is simply “what have you done for me lately?” May Bickerstaff be up to the task and prove he is worthy of tenure in this league.