AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – As much as he didn’t like it, Rick Carlisle couldn’t avoid being in the spotlight Tuesday, after deflecting credit and attention all season for turning around the Detroit Pistons.

Carlisle won the NBA Coach of the Year award after leading Detroit to the Central Division title in his first season as a head coach at any level.

“He’s actually embarrassed by all of this,” said his wife, Donna Carlisle.

The 42-year-old said he’s smart enough to know that he didn’t deserve accolades during the season, when he was once coach of the month, and that it wasn’t warranted Tuesday, despite receiving 73 votes of 126 votes.

“It really isn’t about me,” Carlisle insisted. “It’s about the great effort of my team and the great effort of my staff. This award is about our franchise having a successful season.

“I’m not going to get carried away about this. I know my level of importance around here and that’s not going to change.”

Carlisle, a native of Ogdensburg, N.Y., played two years for the University of Maine (1979-81) before transferring to and graduating from Virginia. He played in the league for five seasons and was an assistant coach for 11. Then after one season as a broadcaster, Pistons president Joe Dumars believed Carlisle could coach.