Bickerstaff Hopes To Get Nuggets A Mile High As The New Head Coach

Denver Nuggets general manager Bernie Bickerstaff left the front office Monday to become head coach, hoping to pull the NBA team from a tailspin that began with Dan Issel’s resignation last month.

Gene Littles, who had been the interim coach since Issel resigned Jan. 15, will return to his assistant’s job after leading the Nuggets to a 3-13 record the past month.

Bickerstaff, who coached the Seattle SuperSonics for five years before taking the Denver front office job in 1990, said he will try to instill a new attitude and improve the defense.

Bickerstaff takes over a club that is 21-29 and fourth in the Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Clippers placed guard Gary Grant on the injured list and signed forward Michael Smith, Boston’s first-round draft pick in 1989.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Eddie Jones, who hurt himself dunking, will be sidelined up to six weeks with a sprained right shoulder.