National Basketball Coaches Association Announces 2026 Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award Voted Annually By 30 NBA Head Coaches

The National Basketball Coaches Association have announced that Detroit Pistons Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff is the 2026 recipient of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award.

The Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award recognizes the dedication, commitment, and hard work of NBA head coaches and is presented annually to a head coach who helped guide his players to a higher level of performance on-the-court and showed outstanding service and dedication to the community off-the-court. It honors the spirit of Mr. Goldberg, the esteemed long-time Executive Director of the NBCA, who set the standard for loyalty, integrity, love of the game, passionate representation, and tireless promotion of NBA coaching. The award is unique in that it is voted upon by the winners’ peers, the head coaches of all 30 NBA teams.

In total, seven head coaches received votes, reflecting the depth of coaching excellence in the NBA this season. In addition to Bickerstaff, the following head coaches also received votes [listed alphabetically]: Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder; Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs; Charles Lee, Charlotte Hornets; Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics; Quin Snyder, Atlanta Hawks; and Tiago Splitter, Portland Trail Blazers.

“I’m extremely honored to receive this recognition from my coaching peers,” said Detroit Pistons Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “None of this is possible without the many people I’ve been blessed with along my journey, beginning with my dad, who has always been my inspiration for wanting to get into this profession, and my family for their love and support. I also owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to all the coaches I’ve worked with and learned from throughout my career.”

“I’m grateful to my coaching staff for all they do to help prepare our team for every practice and game. Tom Gores, Trajan Langdon and the basketball front office, and the Pistons organization have provided us with all the resources to go out and be successful. I’m thankful for their support and dedication to what we’re building here in Detroit. I’ve been lucky to coach a special group of young men this season and seeing their individual and collective growth has been gratifying. I’m truly thankful for their commitment, dedication and willingness to allow me to coach them. This award is truly an acknowledgement of all the hard work done by everyone who work with our players daily including our medical and performance teams, player development coaches and all of our support staff. ”

“To receive this award after recently being elected by my peers as the next President of the National Basketball Coaches Association adds special meaning. It’s a responsibility I look forward to upholding and building upon at a standard of excellence that’s been maintained by Rick Carlisle over the last two-plus decades.”

Coach Bickerstaff, in his second season as Head Coach of the Pistons, led the team to the best record in the Eastern Conference and the third-best overall record in the NBA.

The Pistons captured their first 60-win season since the 2005-2006 campaign and notched 32 wins at home and a franchise-record 28 road wins. The Bickerstaff-led Pistons finished with an overall record of 60-22, a 16-game improvement from last season, and the team’s third-best mark in franchise history. Bickerstaff became the first head coach in NBA history to take a franchise from 60 losses to 60 wins in a two-season span. This season, Bickerstaff also became the third fastest coach to reach 100 wins in franchise history (159 games).

Coach Bickerstaff was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October/November and was selected as the head coach of the Eastern Conference (Team USA Stars) at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game where he coached the squad to a win.

Bickerstaff has transformed the Pistons into one of the most dominant and aggressive forces in the paint on both sides of the ball. The Pistons led the league in points in the paint (57.9) and blocks per game (6.4). Detroit was also the only team to rank top five in both offensive and defensive points allowed in the paint. Additionally, the Pistons ranked top three in numerous statistical categories, including:

• First in blocks per game (6.4)
• First in steals per game (10.4)
• First in offensive points in the paint (57.9)
• Second in defensive rating (108.9)
• Second in net rating (8.4)
• Third in free throws attempted (26.1)
• Third in plus minus (8.2)
• Third in offensive rebounds per game (13.1)

“J.B. Bickerstaff is extremely deserving of this award and the recognition from his fellow Head Coaches,” said David Fogel, NBCA Executive Director and General Counsel. “This season Coach Bickerstaff has shown the ultimate dedication to the coaching profession. Not only has he guided the Pistons to one of the best seasons in franchise history, but his coaching peers also elected him as the sixth President in NBCA history. Congratulations to Coach Bickerstaff, the Pistons assistant coaches, and the entire organization on winning the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award.”

In 1980, just four years after the NBCA was founded, Goldberg became its first Executive Director. He guided the organization during the years of the greatest growth in professional basketball. He helped gain significant benefits for NBA Coaches, including increased retirement funds, salary levels, and disability insurance. Prior to the NBCA, Goldberg was General Counsel of the American Basketball Association.

Previous recipients of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award are:

2025: Kenny Atkinson
2024: Mark Daigneault
2023: Mike Brown
2022: Monty Williams
2021: Monty Williams
2020: Mike Budenholzer and Billy Donovan
2019: Mike Budenholzer
2018: Dwane Casey
2017: Mike D’Antoni and Erik Spoelstra

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PISTONS’ CUNNINGHAM AND LAKERS’ DONČIĆ ELIGIBLE FOR 2025-26 NBA AWARDS

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have agreed, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), that Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić are eligible for all annual awards for the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

Cunningham played in 63 qualified games due in part to missing 12 games as a result of a collapsed lung that was diagnosed on March 17. Dončić played in 64 qualified games due in part to missing two games to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA.

Additionally, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who played in 60 qualified games, filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge under the CBA, seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator. Edwards’ challenge was denied and, as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards for the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

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2026 NBA DRAFT

The 2026 NBA Draft will take place June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. June 23: First Round (ABC, ESPN, ESPN App) June 24: Second Round (ESPN, ESPN App) Coverage on ESPN platforms will begin at 8 p.m. ET both nights.

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WINDSOR EXPRESS TICKET GIVEAWAY

In Play! magazine is giving away four Windsor Express baseline tickets ($154 value) . . .

CHECK BACK NEXT SEASON FOR MORE TICKET GIVEAWAYS!

HOW WE PICK A WINNER

• Contestants must share this Contest page to any of their own social media pages.
• We verify that you shared this IPM contest page with the link you provided.
• We then randomly chose a winner from the pool of contestants that shared this contest page to their social media page.
• Winner announced here at noon game day.

Windsor Express Schedule
WFCU Centre Seating Chart
WFCU Parking

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Windsor Express Return Home with First Round Series Tied 1-1

Playoff basketball has returned to Windsor, and the Windsor Express are set to defend home court in front of their fans at the WFCU Centre.

Following two hard-fought road games in Kitchener this past week, the Express are tied 1- 1 in their best-of-five First Round series against the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans. The series now shifts to Windsor, where the Express will look to build momentum and capitalize on home court advantage.

Fans can expect a high-energy and competitive matchup as the Express continue their pursuit of a
championship.

“This is what we have been working toward all season. Our group is locked in, focused, and ready for the challenge ahead. We know what is at stake, and we are excited to compete in front of our fans and bring playoff basketball back to Windsor.” – Head Coach, Bill Jones

Round 1 Home Game Schedule:

• Game 3: Thursday, April 9th at 7:00PM – WFCU Centre
• Game 4: Saturday, April 11th at 4:00PM – WFCU Centre

Tickets for all home playoff games are available now and can be purchased online or in person at the WFCU Centre Box Office. Fans are encouraged to secure their seats early and be part of the playoff
atmosphere as the Windsor Express take the court at home.

WIN TICKETS

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