Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and then-Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley met at midcourt for a simple bro hug before Game 7 of last season’s first-round playoff series.
More than a series was on the line as both men walked onto the court. Jobs hang in the balance during postseason runs, and the matchup carried heavy personal stakes alongside professional pressure.
“I knew the outcome of that series — we played two years before when I was in Cleveland — if I would’ve lost to Jamahl, I would’ve been fired. I knew if Jamahl didn’t beat us [last season], he was going to be fired,” Bickerstaff told ESPN.
Behind the scenes, an 11-member group chat featuring Black NBA head coaches and assistants closely watched the unfolding drama. Indiana Pacers associate head coach Lloyd Pierce described the tension of the moment.
The private network traces back to Hall of Famer Tim Grgurich’s annual basketball camp in Las Vegas. Those four-day summer sessions brought together roughly 50 young players and 30 coaches for intense on-court work. Over time, those in-person bonds evolved into a digital sanctuary. The collective expanded into a support network providing career advice, personal solidarity, and spaces to discuss opportunities that materialized or vanished.
The group grew significantly closer in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic amid a nationwide social justice uprising. Black coaches joined weekly Zoom calls organized by then-assistant coach David Fizdale and others, while also participating in Peloton rides together.
Following the death of George Floyd, Pierce and Bickerstaff helped launch the Coaches for Racial Justice initiative. “There’s a security. Say whatever the hell you want to say,” Pierce told ESPN.
The network extends far beyond basketball strategy and career survival. Members lean on each other through severe personal crises.
When the wives of Pierce and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham faced breast cancer diagnoses, the group provided a vital outlet for shared grief and practical advice. Ham’s wife received her initial diagnosis in 2021 before the Bucks won the NBA title.
“I could see the fear,” Ham told ESPN, noting that his family received a clean bill of health.
The league currently counts nine Black head coaches, down from peaks of 15 during the 2022-23 season and 14 the following year. Through shifting rosters and high-stakes games, the private chat remains a constant source of professional grounding.
“It’s the most important thing we have in this business,” Bickerstaff told ESPN. “Like nothing gets done in the NBA without connections and community. So like us being able to build a community has changed the outlook and the window of opportunity for people.”
