Congratulations! Bickerstaff Wins This Season's Rudy Tomjanovich Award: Outshines Finch, Kerr, and Four Others

16/04/2026 07:00:19 PANDATV

On April 16 Beijing time, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced that Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has won the 2025-26 season Rudy Tomjanovich Award. This award honors NBA head coaches who demonstrate excellent on-court coaching while actively cooperating with media and treating fans with kindness.

This season, Bickerstaff guided the Pistons to a 60-22 record, placing them first in the East. When dealing with the media, he is clear-minded, articulate, and amiable, always willing to cooperate with interviews and generously share his time. Bickerstaff was a finalist for this award in 2025, and this year marks his first time winning the honor.

Professional Basketball Writers Association President Howard Beck stated: "Whether serving as an assistant coach or a head coach, J.B. has been an excellent interview partner throughout his years in the league. Association members greatly appreciate his candor and his willingness to openly discuss various topics both on and off the court. Regardless of game outcomes, he always handles interviews with grace and composure, offering insightful and unique perspectives that help the public better understand basketball."

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch placed second in this year's voting, marking his second consecutive year at this position. Nominated by association members, the other final candidates this season included: Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls, and Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic. The award winner was ultimately selected by a vote of all association members.

This award is named after Hall of Fame member Rudy Tomjanovich. This legendary coach, who led the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, consistently maintained a professional and humble attitude when engaging with the media. Over his 13-season NBA head coaching career, Tomjanovich achieved a regular-season record of 527 wins and 416 losses, and a playoff record of 51 wins and 39 losses. He led the Rockets to consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.

The Professional Basketball Writers Association annually awards three major honors: the Brian McIntyre Award for public relations teams, the Rudy Tomjanovich Award for head coaches, and the Magic Johnson Award for star players, recognizing individuals and teams that fully cooperate with media and deliver information to fans. According to a new rule implemented by the association starting in 2020, the same team or individual cannot win the same award consecutively for two years.

The Pistons public relations team was awarded this season's Brian McIntyre Award earlier this Wednesday; the winner of the Magic Johnson Award will be officially announced on Friday.

The Professional Basketball Writers Association consists of over 200 full-time reporters and editors who regularly cover NBA content for newspapers, online news platforms, and magazines.

Past Winners of the Rudy Tomjanovich Award

2010-11 Season: Jerry Sloan (Utah Jazz)

2011-12 Season: Doc Rivers (Boston Celtics)

2012-13 Season: George Karl (Denver Nuggets)

2013-14 Season: Frank Vogel (Indiana Pacers)

2014-15 Season: Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)

2015-16 Season: Dwane Casey (Toronto Raptors)

2016-17 Season: Stan Van Gundy (Detroit Pistons)

2017-18 Season: Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)

2018-19 Season: Doc Rivers (Los Angeles Clippers)

2019-20 Season: Nick Nurse (Toronto Raptors)

2020-21 Season: None (Canceled due to pandemic)