Pistons give J.B. Bickerstaff new deal after first series win in 18 years
pistons-extend-jb-bickerstaff-after-first-series-win-since-2008
The Detroit Pistons have signed head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to a contract extension, the team said Monday, less than 24 hours after the club clinched its first playoff series victory since 2008.
Bickerstaff, 47, is midway through his second year in Detroit after taking over for Monty Williams at the start of the 2024-25 season. He has compiled a 104-60 regular-season record (.634), guiding the Pistons to consecutive postseason berths and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this year.
Detroit finished the 2025-26 regular season with 60 wins, then rallied from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Orlando Magic with a 116-94 Game 7 triumph on Sunday. According to ESPN Research, the jump from 14 victories two years ago to 60 this season marks the largest two-year improvement in league history.
The Pistons will open the Eastern Conference semifinals at home Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team Bickerstaff coached for five seasons before being dismissed after the 2023-24 campaign.
Source: ESPN
