Image Source: Detroit Free Press
[Saba Sports News] JB Bickerstaff is setting the tone for the Detroit Pistons, aka the “Bad News Bears” of the NBA. In an interview with Joe Vardon of The Athletic, the new Pistons head coach revealed a unique rule: players aren’t allowed to wear hoodies during practice.
“It’s that last bit of old-school mentality,” Bickerstaff explained. “Growing up with my dad, you didn’t wear anything on your head during the game, no jewelry. You practice how you play.”
Bickerstaff’s father, Bernie, a former NBA head coach for 15 seasons, inspired his approach. Now leading his fourth team after stints with Houston, Memphis, and Cleveland, Bickerstaff faces a challenge in turning around a Pistons squad that finished last season with a franchise-worst 14-68 record.
While some might see this rule as a bit old-fashioned, it’s Bickerstaff’s way of instilling accountability and professionalism in a young team that’s been mired in a losing culture for years.