J.B. Bickerstaff, the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has recently disclosed that during the previous two campaigns he has received threats due to lost wagers. Additionally, the head coach also revealed that he had received threats via phone as well.
JB Bickerstaff says he’s had people find his number & call/threaten him and his family over lost bets and ruined parlays over the last 2 years.
“It’s crossed a line for sure.” pic.twitter.com/ajpDxiO6Fq
— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) March 20, 2024
During the game, a head coach decision profoundly influences the result of the game. However, with the head coach, the wagering has created a situation of extreme discomfort as people who have threatened him and his family have obtained his number.
In 2019, Bickerstaff was announced as the assistant and associate head coach of the Cavaliers and he later took over the position of head coach when John Beilein resigned.
The Cavaliers under Bickerstaff have seen positive changes and in the 2021-2022 campaign, they won 44 games in regular season but couldn’t shine later, missing the postseason.
Since then, they have been impressive and currently occupy the third spot in the Eastern Conference, and for the season, they are 43-26. They were recently defeated by the Miami Heat.
Bickerstaff was undrafted in the 2001 NBA Draft and commenced his coaching career in 2004 with Charlotte Bobcats as their assistant coach. After spending three seasons with the Bobcats, he next joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and was their assistant coach for four seasons.
In 2011, he was with the Houston Rockets and in 2015, he was the interim head coach of the squad. He later left the Rockets and in 2016, he joined the Memphis Grizzlies as their associate head coach. He later became the head coach of the squad as well but was fired as the team was not able to reach the playoffs in 2019.
