HoopsHype.com Rumors

Cartwright is the second former NBA head coach to be put in charge of a team in Japan’s professional league. Bob Hill, who coached Cartwright in 1986-87, guided the now-defunct Tokyo Apache during the 2010-11 campaign. Cartwright says he’ll be with Osaka until the end of the season and then decide what he’ll do next. “You never know,” Cartwright said. “If you had told me in January that I would be over here I would have said you are crazy. I am a basketball coach, I know that, so I’ll be coaching somewhere.” Toronto Globe and Mail

Coaching, Bob Hill, Japan, Bill Cartwright 

With 12 games in the books since Bill Cartwright took over as the Osaka Evessa’s new head coach, his message at the gym, wherever practices and games are held, has been simple and constant. Cartwright preaches “defense, defense, defense,” Evessa big man Rick Rickert told Hoop Scoop in a recent telephone interview. The Evessa are very much a work in progress, but at 6-6 (entering this weekend) since Cartwright became the second former NBA head coach to lead a bj-league team — ex-Tokyo Apache bench boss Bob Hill was the first — there are some positive signs to build off. After all, the Evessa were in complete disarray throughout most of their first 24 games (19 defeats). Japan Times

Coaching, Japan, Bill Cartwright 

Cartwright, whose lone pro head coaching job with the Chicago Bulls ended in 2003, repeatedly tells the players “we need to have more of a defensive-first approach,” Rickert said, relaying his mentor’s message. “That’s how we are going to win games.” Inconsistent defense has been one problem during the team’s rocky season. “Some games we play good defense, and some games we don’t,” admitted Rickert. Japan Times

Coaching, Japan, Bill Cartwright 

Former NBA player and coach Bill Cartwright has been hired as coach of the Osaka Evessa in Japan's professional basketball league. Cartwright coached the Chicago Bulls from 2001-03. Osaka announced Tuesday he would guide the team for the rest of the 2013 season. Houston Chronicle

Coaching, Japan, Bill Cartwright 

After four seasons with the Suns, assistant coach Bill Cartwright's contract will not be renewed. Cartwright was hired by then-General Manager Steve Kerr, a former teammate, and then-coach Terry Porter in 2008 to help Amar'e Stoudemire's defense, rebounding and post-up game. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Bill Cartwright 

Cartwright became the lead assistant when Porter was fired that season and he remained in that role until last year, when Elston Turner became the lead assistant upon being hired to retool the Suns defense. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Bill Cartwright 

The Bulls are hosting a reunion of the 1991 championship team on Saturday at the United Center. One starter who is not expected to attend is center Bill Cartwright. Cartwright is an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. They have a home game Sunday afternoon against Orlando, so it would be a challenge for him to get to Chicago and back. Coach Phil Jackson also has a previous engagement. The Lakers are playing in Dallas on Saturday night, while the Bulls are hosting Utah. Arlington Heights Daily Herald

Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Phil Jackson, Bill Cartwright