The Atlanta Hawks ex-head coach Lloyd Pierce, currently working with Team USA has signed a deal to become a new assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers. At the time of writing, his role has not been specified within the coaching staff.
Pierce was hired by the Hawks at the start of the 2018-19 season after spending four years as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. He also spent a season with the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach.
Pierce entered the league as a player development coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pierce also had a season as a development coach with the Memphis Grizzlies between his sting with the Warriors and the 76ers.
The Atlanta Hawks did not have a successful period under Lloyd Pierce.
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In the two and a half seasons where Pierce was in charge, the Hawks were not a good team. In his first season with the Hawks, Pierce went 29-53 which is only good for a 35.4 win percentage. Things did not improve the next season where the Hawks went 20-47 which is only good for a 29.9 win percentage.
This season, even with all the talent the Hawks signed over the offseason, Pierce only went 14-20 which is a 41.2 win percentage. He did have many injuries but his lack of performance would eventually cost Pierce his job.
Things were not all bad with Pierce, he was really active within the community, including his work within Black Lives Matter and his work during the federal election and getting people to vote. This may have helped him keep his job longer than it should, but eventually, his on-court lack of results cost Pierce.
Hopefully, Pierce is able to form a better bond with his players in Indiana. This is something that he was not able to do in Atlanta, considering how he and his superstar Trae Young stopped getting along, particularly due to his comments about Young missing out on representative basketball.