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It’s been an odd situation, watching how things have unfolded for former Michigan basketball coach John Beilein, first with his abrupt departure for the NBA and Cleveland Cavaliers, and then the abrupt end in the professional ranks as well.
Unlike his time at any other level of basketball in his career, Beilein was constantly embroiled in turmoil — from the 14-40 record, to the slugs/thugs scenario, to his untimely ‘resignation’ from the franchise’s head coaching position.
There have since been reports of Cavs players constantly playing songs with the word ‘thug’ in it, to make light of Beilein’s transgression, they’ve complained to the press about their head coach attempting to hold practice on Christmas Day, but it all started with the reports near the start of the season that the players couldn’t stand playing for the 12 year Wolverines head coach.
On TNT, former NBA star Charles Barkley has had enough of Beilein’s name being sullied. He appeared on the broadcast on Thursday, with the return of league action and slammed the Cleveland players for their part in the melodrama.
“I want to call out the Cleveland Cavaliers,” “I thought what they did to Coach Beilein was ridiculous, unprofessional. I think the veterans on that team were not leaders. I think the young guys who can’t play think they’re better than they are. And they tried to get that man fired. They got that man fired.
“Well, he stepped down, because — he was fired.”
He continued:
“I’m so disgusted by those players trying to get that man fired,” Barkley said. “(John) Beilein is a helluva coach and I think he’s a good guy. But for those players to complain that they’re practicing too hard, they’re watching too much film — it’s because they stink! They stink! I just didn’t think that was fair. When a coach is wrong, I’m gonna call them out, when a player’s wrong, I’m gonna call them out. And I’m disgusted by what the Cavaliers did to Coach Beilein.”
Charles Barkley GOES IN on the Cavs players, claiming that they purposely tried to oust John Beilein!!! pic.twitter.com/4ZlSOhQdU7
— Cleveland Sports Talk (@CLEsportsTalk) February 21, 2020
Barkley isn’t the only one who’s stood up for Beilein. Naturally, as one would expect, so, too, has one of Beilein’s former players in Washington Wizards forward Moe Wagner, who spent his entire Michigan career under the head coach.
Wagner spoke to the Washington Post about Beilein, and noted that if the players in Cleveland actually would have followed his lead, they would have thrived.
As Wagner noted: ‘If you commit to what he does, it’ll make you rich. It made me rich.’
The belief that Beilein’s coaching tactics worked in college but did not fly with professional athletes should not have been that surprising.
“Honestly, it’s a little cringing for me to see all that stuff. I’m a little speechless,” Wagner said. “I do understand the transition is hard for him, especially for his style. I do understand why people would not commit to that and why that would be some type of obstacle.”
According to reports, Cavaliers players revolted against Beilein’s propensity for long practices and video sessions. Then in January, the chasm between coach and players grew when Beilein referred to the group as no longer playing “like a bunch of thugs.” Beilein later apologized to the team, explaining he made a slip of the tongue and meant to say “slugs.”
Wagner said he does not know the players on the Cavaliers’ roster and he didn’t want to choose sides now as a current pro who has grown accustomed to the NBA way of doing things. Still, Wagner spoke from his own experience and how Beilein’s style led to positive outcomes.
“There are certain things he has to adapt, and I think he did, too, but like I said, as a player, I think it is hard,” Wagner said. “It’s not easy to play for him, but I don’t mean that in a negative way. If you commit to what he does, it’s going to make you rich. It made me rich.”
It’s good to see the nation recognize that the missteps with Cleveland seem to be centered more on the Cavaliers players and organization being the ones that made the mistakes — not Beilein. Sure, there could have been some issues on his own end, but he’s succeeded at every level he’s coached until this point. There’s no reason to think he wouldn’t have in the NBA had the Cavs actually given him a chance.
