According to Brad Turner of the LA Times, the Los Angeles Lakers will interview J.B. Bickerstaff on Friday for their open head coaching position.
Bickerstaff will be the second coach the team has interviewed since Tyronn Lue declined their three-year offer, hoping to secure the standard five-year deal. The first was Frank Vogel, who interviewed for the position on Thursday having previously been billed as a likely assistant coach for Lue.
Bickerstaff’s career has mostly been among the assistant coaching ranks. He has three years of head coaching experience with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, amassing an 85-131 record. He was fired by the Grizzlies at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season after two below-.500 finishes in a row.
J.B. is the son of former Lakers interim head coach Bernie Bickerstaff who coached the team after Mike Brown was fired early in the 2012-13 season. Mike D’Antoni was then hired to take over the position.
The Lakers have previously interviewed Monty Williams, Jason Kidd and Juwan Howard. Williams took a five-year deal to coach the Phoenix Suns. The team reportedly tried to influence Lue to accept Kidd as an assistant coach on staff if he were to be hired.
The Lakers are said to be interested in former head coaches Mike Woodson and Lionel Hollins, as well.
