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Pistons' JB Bickerstaff Reveals What NBA Coaches Have To Do To Not Be Fired

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 9:41 PM ET

In the NBA, head coaches rarely retire. Usually, they are fired, and, more often than not, hired by a new team before being fired again.

This season, Mike Brown, Michael Malone, and Taylor Jenkins were all fired before the season even ended, and Tom Thibodeau followed after the season ended.

JB Bickerstaff seems to have some job security as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, although he has been fired twice before, by the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He recently revealed what is expected from an NBA coach.

In 2023, Dwane Casey stepped down as head coach of the Pistons and took on a front office role. He was replaced by Monty Williams, who was fired after one season.

Bickerstaff is by no means on the hot seat, although he knows better than anyone that the tides can change.

"It is not an easy job," Bickerstaff said on Wednesday. "Every year, we sit down with our front office, and we lay out a plan on what a successful season looks like...We have to do more. We have to overachieve in order to progress and move forward."

Seemingly every year, coaches have to build on the successes from the season prior.

Thibodeau led the New York Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years and seemingly had the franchise moving in the right direction for the first time in decades, although the Knicks decided to part ways with him.

Being a head coach in the NBA is never a permanent position, although finding new employment, it would seem, is easy.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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