Memphis fired coach David Fizdale on Monday, one day after the Grizzlies dropped to 7-12 on the season, including eight straight losses.
Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who was 37-34 as an interim coach with the Rockets in 2015-16, has been promoted to interim head coach.
"After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "Coach Fizdale represented the Grizzlies and City of Memphis proudly, and we wish him well as he continues his career."
Fizdale's firing comes after his tepid relationship with All-Star center Marc Gasol reached a low point with Gasol's fourth-quarter benching in a loss to Brooklyn on Sunday night.
Gasol, given a maximum deal by the Grizzlies in July 2015, leads the Grizzlies in points, rebounds and assists, and he was an All-Star in Fizdale's inaugural season. But the center spent plenty of time after the game making it clear to reporters how upset he was at sitting out a full quarter.
"It's a first for me, trust me, and I don't like it one bit,'' Gasol said. "I'm more (ticked) than I can show and frustrated.''
Fizdale explained his decision before Gasol spoke in the locker room and said he simply was trying to win a game while sticking with his reserves. Fizdale said taking a risk as head coach means sometimes upsetting a player or two.
"If I'm not on the floor, I'm not valued,'' Gasol said. "I'm sure (the coaching staff) knew that would hurt me the most.''
The move caught the NBA by surprise. Dwyane Wade, who played with theMiami Heat when Fizdale was an assistant coach, wrote on Twitter that he needed answers.
LeBron James retweeted a comment on Twitter calling the firing so stunning that the writer triple-checked the original ESPN report to make sure he wasn't being duped by a fake account.
Portland coach Terry Stotts called Fizdale's firing very disappointing.
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</article>"Losing in this league and not meeting expectations in this league takes its toll on everybody,'' Stotts said before a game in New York. "Owners, general managers, coaches, players, and handling that is a strain on relationships, and it's disappointing. It's probably the most difficult part of being in the NBA, is managing that part of the season.''
Fizdale, who became the franchise's 13th head coach on May 29, 2016, and he went 50-51, is owed $3 million for the 2018-19 season on his contract, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Grizzlies possessed a team option for the 2019-20 season, the final of his original four-year contract.
The Grizzlies advanced to the Western Conference playoffs a year ago under Fizdale, going 43-39 in the regular season.
The Grizzlies have scheduled a news conference with Bickerstaff for Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who was 37-34 as an interim coach with the Rockets in 2015-16, has been promoted to interim head coach.
"After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "Coach Fizdale represented the Grizzlies and City of Memphis proudly, and we wish him well as he continues his career."
Fizdale's firing comes after his tepid relationship with All-Star center Marc Gasol reached a low point with Gasol's fourth-quarter benching in a loss to Brooklyn on Sunday night.
Gasol, given a maximum deal by the Grizzlies in July 2015, leads the Grizzlies in points, rebounds and assists, and he was an All-Star in Fizdale's inaugural season. But the center spent plenty of time after the game making it clear to reporters how upset he was at sitting out a full quarter.
"It's a first for me, trust me, and I don't like it one bit,'' Gasol said. "I'm more (ticked) than I can show and frustrated.''
Fizdale explained his decision before Gasol spoke in the locker room and said he simply was trying to win a game while sticking with his reserves. Fizdale said taking a risk as head coach means sometimes upsetting a player or two.
"If I'm not on the floor, I'm not valued,'' Gasol said. "I'm sure (the coaching staff) knew that would hurt me the most.''
The move caught the NBA by surprise. Dwyane Wade, who played with theMiami Heat when Fizdale was an assistant coach, wrote on Twitter that he needed answers.
LeBron James retweeted a comment on Twitter calling the firing so stunning that the writer triple-checked the original ESPN report to make sure he wasn't being duped by a fake account.
Portland coach Terry Stotts called Fizdale's firing very disappointing.
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</article>"Losing in this league and not meeting expectations in this league takes its toll on everybody,'' Stotts said before a game in New York. "Owners, general managers, coaches, players, and handling that is a strain on relationships, and it's disappointing. It's probably the most difficult part of being in the NBA, is managing that part of the season.''
Fizdale, who became the franchise's 13th head coach on May 29, 2016, and he went 50-51, is owed $3 million for the 2018-19 season on his contract, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Grizzlies possessed a team option for the 2019-20 season, the final of his original four-year contract.
The Grizzlies advanced to the Western Conference playoffs a year ago under Fizdale, going 43-39 in the regular season.
The Grizzlies have scheduled a news conference with Bickerstaff for Tuesday at 10 a.m.
At least he still has a hot wife.
At least he still has a hot wife.
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