Although the 2018/19 NBA regular season just wrapped up on Wednesday night, Memphis Grizzlies already engaged in a major overhaul after another unsuccessful run. The team decided to fire their head coach J.B. Bickerstaff while also making several other organizational moves. This comes after Grizzlies missed the playoffs a second year in a row while finishing the season 12th in Western Conference with a 33-49 record.
Besides firing Bickerstaff, Grizzlies also reassigned general manager Chris Wallace and vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger. The duo will now serve in scouting and senior advisory roles.
Jason Wexler, who was team’s lead business executive, was elevated to the role of team president while assistant general manager Zach Kleiman will now serve as executive vice-president of basketball operations.
“In order to put our team on the path to sustainable success, it was necessary to change our approach to basketball operations,” – said Grizzlies’ chairman and controlling owner Robert J. Pera in a statement. “I look forward to a reenergized front office and fresh approach to Memphis Grizzlies basketball under new leadership while retaining the identity and values that have distinguished our team.”
“I want to thank Chris and John for their long-term service and dedication to the Memphis Grizzlies and for their considerable contributions to our past successes, and look forward to their contributions to our future ones. I also want to thank J.B. for his leadership and commitment to our organization in his time as our coach.” – he added.
J.B. Bickerstaff joined Memphis Grizzlies in 2016 when he was hired as associate head coach. After David Fizdale got fired early in 2017/18 NBA season, Bickerstaff took the interim head coach role and was later named team’s permanent head coach. He ends his tenure in Memphis with a 48-97 record.
