NBA Update: Detroit Pistons fire their coach John Kuester
The sale of the Detroit Pistons to billionaire Tom Gores was finally completed on Wednesday, more than a month after it was announced back in April.
A day after his instatement Gores decided to retain his veteran president Joe Dumars. However Pistons’ coach John Kuester was not afforded the same luxury and on Monday, the franchise decided to part ways with the rather controversial coach. The inevitable finally took place, with Joe Dumars announcing the decision to fire Kuester after two seasons of underperforming and internal strife.
"Decisions like this are difficult to make," Dumars said. "I want to thank John for his hard work and dedication to the organization over the last two years, however, at this time we have decided to make a change."
John Kuester took over the Detroit team back in 2009. He had served as an assistant with Larry Brown in the 2004 NBA World Championship winning run and was therefore expected to be familiar with the franchise and the senior players.
However, there did not seem to be any goodwill at all as his time in charge was marred by bust ups with many senior players. On top of that list was Richard Hamilton, a survivor from the 2004 team, who had numerous disagreements with the coach and was benched repeatedly because of his insubordination.
John Kuester also had fall outs with Tayshaun Prince and Tracy McGrady. Every player on the team, except Ben Gordon, was made to sit out at least one game during the last year by the coach. Things got so bad that around 7 players did not show up for a practice session, late in the season. John Kuester responded by benching them all in the ensuing game, which the Pistons lost in a blow out.
His overall record with the Pistons was 57-107 and last year the team won just 30 games. The poor displays were hard to take for the Pistons’ fans, who had not seen their team miss out on the playoffs for two consecutive years since 1995. Home attendances therefore dropped significantly and it was clear even before the season ended that a change had to be made.
There are not many clear cut favourites yet to succeed Kuester in the Pistons hot seat. The management refused to comment on any names and did not say by what time a decision could be expected on the matter.
"At this time, we do not have a timetable for hiring a successor," said Detroit Pistons President Joe Dumars.
Many of the senior players at Detroit are expected to move on before the new season begins and Dumars confirmed that the franchise wants a fresh start and a change of mood in the team that can take the Pistons back to the heights of 2004,
"I think that we really do have to re-establish the culture here," Dumars said that night. "I think that's the main thing -- is to just kind of re-claim the culture back that was established here for a long time."
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