Grizzlies fire head coach J.B. Bickerstaff

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

The Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Thursday. He had been the Grizzlies head coach since the 2017 season. 

He was named the Grizzlies interim head coach on Nov. 27, 2017 after the team fired David Fizdale. He was then named the team’s permanent head coach on May 1, 2018. 

Former GM Chris Wallace has been demoted to a scouting role.

He failed to guide the team to the playoffs in either season with the Grizzlies. He went 33-49 in 82 games this season. 

After taking over following the firing of Fizdale, he went 15-48. 

The 40-year-old Denver, Colorado native served one season as the Grizzlies Associate Head Coach in 2016-17. Before arriving in Memphis, he was the Houston Rockets Interim Head Coach. 

He guided the Rockets to a 37-34 record in 71 games during the 2015-16 season. Houston lost in the first-round of the playoffs, as they were defeated in five games. 

He was an Assistant Coach with the Rockets from 2011 through 2015. Bickerstaff also was an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2007 through 2011. 

He also was an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats from 2004 through 2007.