Minnesota Timberwolves interview Bernie Bickerstaff for the coaching position – NBA Update
After partying ways with Kurt Rambis who compiled a 32-132 record in two season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have officially entered the market in search for a new head coach for the sixth time in the franchise history.
In search of a dynamic coach who can introduce an up-tempo aggressive style of play, the Minnesota Timberwolves recently interviewed Portland Trailblazers’ assistant Bernie Bickerstaff.
In over 13 seasons of experience as a head coach, Bickerstaff carries a record of 415 wins with different NBA teams which include Charlotte Bobcats, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Seattle Supersonics, now known as Oklahoma
City Thunder.
Before breaking up with Rambis, the Timberwolves requested Trail Blazers’ 46 year old head coach Nate McMillan to allow them to interview Bernie. McMillan honoured Minnesota Timberwolves request earlier in July and the interview
finally took place on Friday.
“Bernie’s been around for a long, long time. He’s seen so many different systems and worked with so many different coaches. He’s been a GM; a president. He’s done just about everything you can do in the NBA except own a team. So
he has a great deal of experience and knowledge for the game and he can help in so many different ways.” McMillan said.
The last two seasons have been a complete nightmare for the Wolves. Under the leadership of Rambis, The Timberwolves finished with the worst overall record on both occasion and sunk to new depths of frailty despite having players
like Kevin Love and Michael Beasley.
The Timberwolves used to be consistent play-off contenders during the era of coach Flip Saunders, who is the only coach in the franchise history to last more than two complete seasons. Apart from spending nearly 10 successful years
in the Timberwolves, Saunders is also the only coach to guide the Timberwolves into the play-offs. The Wolves enjoyed 8 successive post-season trips with Flip and after firing him, the team never even came close from clinching a play-off berth.
Timberwolves President David Kahn believes that the youth on the team’s roster has the potential to become a better team in the upcoming years. They only need a leadership that can help the franchise to embark on the winning track.
"I think that we have all the ingredients here to be a pretty fine team here the next several years. But now I think as everybody understands we've got to find somebody, or we've got to find an entire coaching staff to help put
it together." Kahn said.
Bernie carries a substantial amount of experience at different executive positions which is one of his most attractive traits. Bickerstaff experience can definitely help Minnesota Timberwolves get better, if he indeed becomes the
next coach of the franchise.
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