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Detroit Pistons Lose Coach to Alabama After J.B. Bickerstaff Hiring

J.B. Bickerstaff's team will see some changes after the Detroit Pistons lost an assistant to Alabama.
Justin Grasso|
Aug 12, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Philadephia 76ers Summer League head coach Brian Adams reacts during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Philadephia 76ers Summer League head coach Brian Adams reacts during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports | Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Detroit PistonsAlabama Crimson Tide

Whenever a new head coach takes over a team, change is inevitable.

The Detroit Pistons didn’t really get the chance to consider their options with assistant coach Brian Adams, though. Shortly after the Pistons resolved their coaching question, it was reported Adams would be taking his talents elsewhere.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnaorwski, Adams is set to join Nate Oats’ staff at the University of Alabama. Adams leaves after one season in Detroit.

The NCAA is nothing new for Adams, who assisted at Harvard dating back to 2011. After stints with Harvard and Marist, Adams coached the developmental squad for the LA Clippers from 2014 to 2020. In 2018, he landed his first head coaching job in the G League.

When former Clippers head coach Doc Rivers joined the Philadelphia 76ers, Adams made the move with him, landing a promotion. When Rivers was fired, Adams took on a head coaching job in Taipei. After a few months with that position, he resigned before joining the Pistons in late December of 2023.

At the time of his arrival in Detroit, Adams joined Monty Williams’ staff. The Pistons struggled in 2023-2024 to the point where Williams’ job was in question, despite the fact he had five years left on his contract. The Pistons moved on from Williams. This week, he was replaced by J.B. Bickerstaff.

It’s unclear what the plan was for Adams now that Bickerstaff is in charge. Instead of sticking around and waiting to find out, Adams is on his way to ‘Bama to take on his third NCAA assistant coaching job.

Meanwhile, Bickerstaff and the Pistons have a lot of work to do in the coming months as he finalizes his coaching staff ahead of the 2024-2025 NBA season.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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