Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
Author: Anthony Vlahovic
Last Updated: 10 February, 2025
The sheer amount of talent in the NBA is off the charts, but only a select few coaches can get all that talent to work together and buy into a system. Heading into the 2023-24 season, OKC Thunder head coach Mark Daineault was handed one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, and by getting them to the number one seed in the Western Conference, he earned himself the Coach of the Year Award.
The Coach of the Year Award is not just handed to the coach whose team had the best record. Plenty of factors could go into it, including whether a team exceeded expectations or found success despite dealing with a plethora of injuries. As the season transitions into February, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson has separated himself as the heavy favorite by having his team on pace to win over 70 games.
Coach | Opening odds | ||
---|---|---|---|
Kenny Atkinson | +375 | -450 | -425 |
Ime Udoka | +1300 | +650 | +700 |
JB Bickerstaff | +4000 | +1400 | +2000 |
Taylor Jenkins | +1000 | +1800 | +2000 |
Mark Daigneault | +1300 | +3000 | +2000 |
JJ Redick | +2200 | +4000 | +8000 |
Jamahl Mosley | +1200 | +6000 | +6000 |
Tyronn Lue | +2800 | +10,000 | +10,000 |
Tom Thibodeau | +1300 | +15,000 | +15,000 |
Quin Snyder | +20,000 | +25,000 | +22,500 |
Michael Malone | +6600 | +25,000 | +22,500 |
Chris Finch | +3500 | +25,000 | +22,500 |
Joe Mazzulla | +900 | +30,000 | +20,000 |
*odds as of February 7, 2025
Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers): In his first season as the Cavs' head coach, Atkinson has guided his team to a 41-10 start to the year. The Cavs were a solid team last season, but under Atkinson's system, they rank first in points per 100 possessions in non-garbage time (123.4), per Cleaning the Glass. Given their dominance, it's safe to say that Atkinson will remain at the top of the odds board for the foreseeable future.
Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets): The Rockets have slowly been building an exciting young team, but with that, they needed an experienced coach who can teach defense. Ime Udoka was the perfect guy for that job, and in his second season with the Rockets, he has them boasting a 32-19 record while ranking fourth in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions in non-garbage time (110.5)(Cleaning the Glass).
JB Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons): It's been nothing but doom and gloom for the Detroit Pistons for quite some time. However, this season, that has started to change, as they are 25-26 and have an all-star leading the team in Cade Cunningham. Being able to turn this franchise around has helped JB Bickerstaff creep up the odds board this season, and if he can keep the Pistons' defense playing at an above-league-average level, he should be able to remain in the race.
Season | Coach | Team | Opening odds |
---|---|---|---|
2023-24 | Mark Daigneault | Oklahoma City Thunder | +700 |
2022-23 | Mike Brown | Sacramento Kings | +8000 |
2021-22 | Monty Williams | Phoenix Suns | +2000 |
2020-21 | Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks | +8000 |
2019-20 | Nick Nurse | Toronto Raptors | +2000 |
2018-19 | Mike Budenholzer | Milwaukee Bucks | +1100 |
2017-18 | Dwane Casey | Toronto Raptors | +3000 |
2016-17 | Mike D'Antoni | Houston Rockets | +3000 |
2015-16 | Steve Kerr | Golden State Warriors | +575 |
2014-15 | Mike Budenholzer | Atlanta Hawks | +25000 |