Detroit Pistons announce extension with coach J.B. Bickerstaff
Associated Press
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Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) celebrates with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, left, as he leaves late in the fourth quarter of a win over the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Tuesday, May 2, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff argues a call during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Orlando Magic Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) discusses a play with Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, left, during the first half in Game 1 against the Orlando Magic in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff directs his players against the Orlando Magic during the first half in Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) celebrates with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, left, as he leaves late in the fourth quarter of a win over the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Tuesday, May 2, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit lost in the first round a year ago. This season, the Pistons had the best record in the Eastern Conference at 60-22 and on Sunday defeated Orlando 116-94 to close out a playoff series victory for the first time since 2008.
In the fall of 2024, Bickerstaff took over a Pistons franchise that had posted the NBA's worst record in each of the previous two seasons, including a 14-68 record in 2023-24.
Before Bickerstaff arrived, Detroit finished with the worst record in the NBA in consecutive seasons.
Detroit opens a second-round playoff series at home on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers — a team Bickerstaff coached from the end of the 2019-2020 season through the 2023-24 campaign.
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