Pistons to name Bickerstaff coach
The Detroit Pistons will name J.B. Bickerstaff as their next head coach, multiple outlets reported Sunday.
Bickerstaff was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 23 after leading them to the second round of the playoffs in 2023-24. Now, he’s headed to the Pistons on a five-year deal, with a team option for the fifth season, the Detroit Free Press reported.
No financial terms were released.
The Pistons fired head coach Monty Williams on June 19, one season into a $76.5 million, six-year deal.
Detroit finished the 2023-24 season with an NBA-worst 14-68 record, a franchise low, that included a 28-game losing streak.
New president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon will ask Bickerstaff, 45, to help turn around a franchise that has spun its wheels over the past five years, not winning more than 23 games in a season in that span.
Bickerstaff had three straight winning seasons as head coach of the Cavaliers, who reached the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in six years in 2023-24 before falling to the Boston Celtics in five games in an injury-marred series.
Bickerstaff compiled a record of 170-159 since replacing John Beilein in February 2020.
After going 22-50 in his first full season, the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, the Cavaliers improved to 44-38 in 202122 and 51-31 in 2022-23 before finishing 48-34 this season.
Bickerstaff has a reputation as someone who can develop young talent, and the Pistons have plenty of that. The group is led by Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2021, as well as Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson, the No. 5 overall picks in the 2022 and ‘23 drafts, respectively.
On Wednesday, the Pistons selected Ron Holland with the No. 5 pick.
DRAG RACING
Drag racing icon John Force opened his eyes on Friday for the first time since his high-speed crash during last weekend’s NHRA Virginia Nationals, his race team said in a statement.
Force, a 16-time NHRA champion, was moved to the neuro intensive care unit at a Richmond-area hospital last Wednesday, but had been unable to respond consistently to doctors’ commands. Following five days of treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury, Force was finally able to speak his name and give a thumbs up sign when prompted, according to the statement from John Force Racing issued Sunday morning.
Along with daily signs of improvement, family members say Force has also shown signs of agitation and confusion, having to be restrained on several occasions when he attempted to get out of bed.
“Despite the welcomed progress, the 157-time tour winner still faces a long and difficult recovery ahead and for the immediate future, will remain in neuro intensive care with visitation restricted to immediate family members only,” the team statement said.
Force, 75, won his heat with a 302 mph run on June 23 at Virginia
Motorsports Park but his engine exploded in a massive fireball shortly after he crossed the finish line. The car crashed into both side walls, but Force was able to escape the flaming wreckage.
AUTO RACING
George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday after Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris collided late in the race while fighting for the lead.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second with Ferrari’s Carlos
Sainz third at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring.
The gifted win was a first for Mercedes since November 2022, when Russell triumphed in Brazil, and the second of the Briton’s career.
A slow 6.5 second pitstop for Verstappen on lap 52 brought Norris right back into range and the ensuing duel saw the McLaren enjoying a drag reduction benefit as Norris tried to overtake.
“The team have done an amazing job to put us in this fight. You’ve got to be there at the end to pick up the pieces and that’s where we were,” Russell said before stepping up to the top of the podium.
MLB
Los Angeles Angels star centerfielder Mike Trout is hopeful to return from knee surgery by late July in what has been another injury-shortened season for the three-time American League MVP.
Trout spoke with reporters on Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., and he said he was convinced he’d be on the field a month from now following recovery from a torn meniscus in his left knee.
“I feel really good ramping things up,” Trout said. “I’m happy where I’m at right now. It makes me feel relieved. I’m not putting an exact timetable on it. But once I can do all the tests and run, hit and throw, I’ll be out there.”
Trout, 32, said it’s taken longer than expected to heal from the May 3 surgery.
TRACK AND FIELD
Noah Lyles won the 200-meter final Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, and his quest to earn at least one Olympic gold to replace the bronze he already owns is going exactly as planned.
Lyles won in 19.53 – a new world lead and a meet record – followed closely by Rice Lake native Kenny Bednarek (19.59, a personal best) and Erriyon Knighton (19.77). Lyles had already qualified for Paris last week by winning the 100, and is sure to be on the 4x100 relay team.
NBA
Patrick Williams and the Chicago Bulls have come to terms on a five-year, $90 million extension, according to multiple outlets.
ESPN reported Saturday that Williams will have a fifth-year player option. He was due to become a restricted free agent next month.
The Bulls selected Williams, who turns 23 in August, with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Florida State.
A foot injury limited the 6-foot-7 power forward to just 43 games last season, and he put up 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
– Wire reports