The Memphis Grizzlies announced on Monday that the team had fired head coach David Fizdale, a move that confused many, including Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James who alluded that Fizdale was "the fall guy."

General manager Chris Wallace broke the news late Monday evening and added that the team had appointed associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to interim head coach. The decision comes just as the team got off to a rocky start to the season at 7-12, dropping eight straight losses.

"After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "Coach Fizdale represented the Grizzlies and City of Memphis proudly, and we wish him well as he continues his career."

"Coach Fizdale worked tirelessly to achieve on-court success, and for that, we are grateful. We wish him and his family all the best in the future," Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert J. Pera said via the team’s official website. "We remain focused on achieving sustainable, long-term success."

The Grizzlies move prompted James and other NBA players and analysts to scoff on Twitter. Fizdale’s relationship with Grizzlies star center Marc Gasol was strained and hit a new low when he benched the big man in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

"I need some answers. Feels like my man was a fall guy," James tweeted.

Dwyane Wade, who played under Fizdale in 2008 with the Miami Heat, retweeted Adrian Wojnarowski’s announcement of the firing with the message: "I need answers!!! WTF"

"David Fizdale firing was so stunning I had to check, double-check & triple-check Woj's Twitter account to make sure it was legit," Michael Lee of "The Vertical" wrote. "I then made sure it was a legit blue check, went over to Woj's Twitter page & scrolled down again because I didn't want to be duped by a fake account.

The Grizzlies look to move forward with Bickerstaff, who joined the team as an associate coach in June 2016. He saw success with the Houston Rockets as an interim coach, where he took the team to winning record of 37-34 in the 2015-16 season. He was a former assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2007-11. Before that, Bickerstaff spent three seasons (2004-07) with the Charlotte Bobcats.

David Fizdale
David Fizdale was assistant coach of the Miami Heat in 2008. Getty Images
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