The 2025-26 season was supposed to be another rebuilding year for the Detroit Pistons. Instead, it became one of the greatest turnaround seasons in franchise history.
Under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the Pistons exploded to a 60-22 record, earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference while restoring Detroit basketball back to national relevance. Detroit not only captured the Central Division title, but also recorded its first 60-win season since the mid-2000s championship era.
The season was fueled by the rise of superstar Cade Cunningham, a deep and physical roster, elite team defense, and a culture shift that completely changed the identity of the organization. Detroit opened the year with a 13-game winning streak tied for the longest in franchise history and consistently proved they belonged among the NBA elite.
But the biggest story was Bickerstaff himself.
Just two seasons removed from a 14-win disaster under Monty Williams, Bickerstaff transformed the Pistons into a powerhouse. In only his second year with the franchise, he led Detroit to 104 wins across two seasons, developed young talent, rebuilt accountability, and brought toughness back to the city.
The Pistons even battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the first round for their first playoff series victory since 2008. Which is exactly why many believe he was robbed in the NBA Coach of the Year voting.
While Joe Mazzulla won the award after leading Boston to a 56-26 record, Detroit fans argued that expectations matter. Boston was already an established championship contender with an elite roster.
Detroit, on the other hand, went from league embarrassment to the best team in the Eastern Conference under Bickerstaff’s leadership.
Bickerstaff received 29 first-place votes and finished second overall in the voting, despite completing arguably the most impressive coaching job in the NBA this season.
Ironically, fellow NBA coaches appeared to agree. Bickerstaff won the 2026 Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award an honor voted on directly by NBA head coaches themselves.
At the end of the day, the trophy may not say Coach of the Year, but the city of Detroit knows exactly who changed the culture and brought winning basketball back to the Motor City.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.