New Pistons coach implementing notable rule for his players

Dec 6, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J. B. Bickerstaff reacts in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

JB Bickerstaff is doing everything that he can to set the tone for The Bad News Bears of the NBA.

The new Detroit Pistons head coach Bickerstaff revealed in an interview with Joe Vardon of The Athletic this week that he has implemented an interesting rule for his team this season. The Pistons players are not permitted to wear hoodies during practice.

“Just the last shred of that old-school mentality,” Bickerstaff was quoted as saying. “Just growing up with my dad, you don’t wear anything on your head during the game. You don’t wear jewelry. You practice how you play.”

Bickerstaff, 45, is referring to his father Bernie Bickerstaff, a longtime NBA coach. The elder Bickerstaff, now 80, was a head coach in the Association for 15 total seasons (with Seattle, Denver, Washington, Charlotte, and the Los Angeles Lakers) and now works as an executive in the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As for JB, the Pistons are now his NBA fourth head coaching stop himself after Houston, Memphis, and Cleveland. They will also likely represent his biggest challenge yet, especially after Detroit went an all-time franchise-worst 14-68 (.171) last season and then ate a boatload of money to fire Bickerstaff’s predecessor.

Bickerstaff’s tactics here might seem a bit corny and performative to some. But you definitely cannot blame Bickerstaff for trying to create a new culture of accountability and professionalism for a very young Pistons team that has turned losing into a way of life over the last several years.