So far, JB Bickerstaff has put together one of the most impressive coaching resumes during the 2025-26 regular season. With the Detroit Pistons in first place of the Eastern Conference for seven going on consecutive weeks, Bickerstaff has coached his squad into a defensive juggernaut with two likely All-Stars and the deepest roster in the league. 

Last year, Bickerstaff finished narrowly in second place for the COTY award, but he has an opportunity to course-correct given how successful the Pistons have been this season. Bickerstaff has Cunningham playing like an All-NBA point guard, and Jalen Duren is finally scratching his potential as the most athletically gifted center in the Eastern Conference. 

On top of those talking points, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been in a bit of a tail-spin lately, and OKC's head coach stood as JB's primary competition for this award. Now, there's still a lot of basketball left to play, but it would be difficult to put forth an argument in good faith for a head coach other than JB Bickerstaff at the moment.