Pistons Coach J.B. Bickerstaff Wins 2025-26 PBWA Rudy Tomjanovich Award

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Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff wins PBWA's Rudy Tomjanovich Award for 2025-26

The Professional Basketball Writers Association honors Bickerstaff for his cooperation with the media and fans.

Official release | April 15, 2026 6:29 PM

J.B. Bickerstaff led the Pistons to an East-best record of 60-22 during the 2025-26 regular season.

The Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today that J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons has won the 2025-26 Rudy Tomjanovich Award. The award recognizes an NBA coach for cooperation with the media and fans, as well as excellence on the court.

This season, Bickerstaff guided the Pistons to a 60-22 record, tops in the Eastern Conference. He was consistently thoughtful and engaging with the media, and generous with his time. A finalist in 2025, this is Bickerstaff’s first time winning the award.

“J.B. has been a joy to work with throughout his years as an assistant and head coach in this league,” said PBWA president Howard Beck. “Our members truly appreciate his candor and his willingness to discuss any issues that arise on or off the court. Win or lose, he always handles his interviews with grace and provides the kind of thoughtful insight that helps us all understand the game better.”

Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves finished second in the balloting for the second straight year. The other finalists, based on nominations from PBWA members, were Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls), and Jamahl Mosley (Orlando Magic). The winner was determined by a vote of the full PBWA membership.

The award is named for Hall of Famer Rudy Tomjanovich, the former coach of the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, who was consistently professional and respectful while dealing with the media. During his 13 seasons as an NBA head coach, Tomjanovich compiled a 527-416 regular-season record and a 51-39 postseason record. His Rockets won back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.

The PBWA annually honors a PR staff (Brian McIntyre Award), coach (Rudy Tomjanovich Award), and star player (Magic Johnson Award) who go above and beyond to work with the media and help inform fans. Under the PBWA’s current rules, adopted in 2020, no team or individual can win in consecutive years.

The Pistons PR staff was announced as this season’s winner of the Brian McIntyre Award on Tuesday. The Magic Johnson Award winner will be named on Thursday.

The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA on a regular basis for newspapers, online news outlets, and magazines.

Rudy Tomjanovich Award Winners

• 2010-11: Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz
• 2011-12: Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics
• 2012-13: George Karl, Denver Nuggets
• 2013-14: Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers
• 2014-15: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
• 2015-16: Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors
• 2016-17: Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons
• 2017-18: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
• 2018-19: Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers
• 2019-20: Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
• 2020-21: n/a (pandemic)
• 2021-22: n/a (pandemic)
• 2022-23: Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
• 2023-24: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
• 2024-25: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2025-26: J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons

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