Pistons Secure Multiple NBA Award Finalists After 60-Win Season

Why it matters locally: The Detroit Pistons, a professional sports team based in Michigan, have multiple players and their coach recognized as finalists for prestigious NBA awards, reflecting a highly successful season for the team.

The Detroit Pistons confirmed multiple finalists for NBA end-of-season awards following their 60-win regular season, which secured the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed. Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff received nominations. Ausar Thompson is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. Thompson, in his third NBA season, played 73 regular-season games and led the NBA with 2.0 steals per game, adding 0.9 blocks per game. Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) are the other finalists. Dennis Rodman (1989, 1990, 1991) and Ben Wallace (2001, 2003, 2005, 2006) are the only previous Pistons to win the award. The award winner will be announced on April 20. Jalen Duren received a nomination for Most Improved Player. In his fourth season, Duren, the No. 13 overall pick in 2022, averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and made his first All-Star team. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta) and Deni Avdija (Portland) are also finalists. No Piston has previously won this award. The winner will be announced on April 24. Duncan Robinson is among 12 finalists for the Teammate of the Year Award. Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), De'Aaron Fox (San Antonio), and Marcus Smart (Los Angeles Lakers) are also finalists. No Piston has won this award. J.B. Bickerstaff is a finalist for Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Bickerstaff, in his second season coaching the Pistons, oversaw a 16-win improvement this season, following a 30-win improvement between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. He finished second in the voting in 2025.