CLEVELAND — J.B. Bickerstaff entered Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday night with an understanding of the mixed feelings Cleveland fans might have toward him as he returned as an opposing coach. After more than four seasons leading the Cavaliers, he faced uncertainty regarding how he would be received after the criticisms that had come during his tenure, particularly concerning his rotations and playoff strategies.

“Who knows?” he remarked, expressing a light-hearted uncertainty about the reactions he might face. “I might get booed, I might get cheered.” Bickerstaff was let go after last season despite successfully guiding the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference semifinals, and now he was leading the Detroit Pistons in their first road game of the new season.

Reflecting on his return, Bickerstaff shared that it felt odd to travel to the arena in a team bus rather than making the familiar drive from his home on the west side of Cleveland. He even joked about the lack of nostalgia he felt while stepping back into the arena. “Absolutely nothing,” he said when asked about his feelings at that moment. “I didn’t recognize these (remodeled) halls back here trying to figure out where to go, but that’s it.” Rather than dwell on nostalgic feelings, Bickerstaff emphasized the importance of focusing on his current team’s development.

During his tenure, he undertook the significant task of rebuilding a young Cavs team after the departure of LeBron James in 2018. The fans gave him the expected mixed reception during player introductions, which carried over into a tribute during a timeout in the first quarter. Standing near halfcourt with his hands in his pockets, Bickerstaff kept a composed demeanor in response to the mixed feelings from the crowd.

Bickerstaff had previously rescued the team from turmoil when he took over mid-season in 2019-20 after the departure of head coach John Beilein. Under his leadership, the Cavs reached the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Last year, despite battling injuries throughout the season, the Cavaliers managed to progress past the Orlando Magic in the first round before falling to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. In that series, they were without All-Star Donovan Mitchell for the final two games. However, the playoffs’ early exit did not prevent the team from making a coaching change shortly after the season ended.

Even though his time with the Cavaliers ended earlier than he wished, Bickerstaff took pride in the progress the team made during his leadership. “We did a hell of a job here from where we started when our staff took over to where we finished,” he stated, pointing out the improvements in the team’s performance. “In any kind of rebuild situation, if you could ask for that to happen, every GM, every owner, every player in this league would sign up for it.” His pride lay in the fact that the team consistently improved each year, progressing further in the playoffs, which he believed demonstrated they accomplished their goals.