Detroit Pistons have three finalists for NBA regular-season awards

Detroit — The NBA revealed the top three finalists for each regular-season award on Sunday.

Notably, the Detroit Pistons have three representatives in contention for honors. Jalen Duren is a finalist for the Most Improved Player award, while Ausar Thompson is a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Additionally, coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been recognized as a top-three finalist for Coach of the Year.

Guard Cade Cunningham was not among the finalists for Most Valuable Player, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) making up the the final three.

Duren has risen to All-Star status this season, notching career averages of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He ranked second in the league for points scored in the paint, with an average of 14.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Thompson had a standout season defensively, leading the league in steals with an average of 2.0 per game.

Bickerstaff finished in the top three for Coach of the Year voting for the second consecutive season. He played a key role in leading the Pistons to a 60-win season, helping Detroit secure the league's second-best defense and ninth-best offense during the regular season.

The Defensive Player of the Year will be announced Monday, while the Most Improved Player will be named Friday. Coach of the Year honors will be revealed at a later date.

coty.davis@detroitnews.com