John Beilein Hired by Pistons, Hailed as 'Real Asset' for Player Development
Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons announced they are hiring John Beilein as a senior advisor/player development on Wednesday.
“There is nothing more important to our franchise right now than the growth and development of our players,” Pistons governor Tom Gores said. “Having spent time with John, we all know he is one of the best teachers in the game of basketball at any level. Dwane’s decision and desire to bring him on board underscores our commitment to helping this young Pistons team maximize its potential. John will be a real asset to the organization and we are fortunate to have him join us.”
Beilein is returning to the NBA after his stint as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers ended abruptly in February 2020.
He signed a five-year deal to become the Cavs’ coach before the 2019-20 season and failed to make it past the All-Star break. Cleveland had the Eastern Conference’s worst record (14-40), and its coach appeared ill-suited for the pro level.
Most notably, the 68-year-old got in hot water when he said his players had improved and weren’t playing like “a bunch of thugs”; he apologized for the comment, saying he meant to say “slugs.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst reported that Beilein’s departure was inevitable:
