J.B. Bickerstaff the former head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers called out his ex player, Josh Allen on SiriusXM.
The departed Cleveland Cavaliers head coach appeared on SiriusXM Tuesday to reflect on the Finals. Bickerstaff took the time to praise Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic for playing through an apparent rib injury. However, many have taken his comments as a shot at Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen.
“This was a guy who was taking shots to his ribs so that he could go out and play, he was playing through pain, he wasn’t complaining,” said J.B. Bickerstaff.
Of course, Allen also dealt with a rib ailment during the playoffs. However, he couldn’t play through it like Doncic did, missing Cleveland’s last eight postseason contests as his squad struggled to close out the Orlando Magic and then fell to the Celts in five games.
Allen’s approach to his injury reportedly rubbed several in the organization the wrong way, and Bickerstaff’s shade here indicates he was one of the members unhappy with the former All-Star.
The Cavaliers, who were unimpressed by Allen’s urgency to return to the court are valid in their frustrations. That’s something people still on the team should be sorting out, however. Bickerstaff chiming in subtly after his firing seems like a petty move by a disgruntled ex-employee.