With the calendar having turned to September, the beginning of the NBA season is right around the corner.
As we examine the betting odds for various awards, let’s check in on those manning the benches.
Here are the latest NBA Coach of the Year odds and some favorites, contenders, and sleepers who could end up walking away with the award.
NBA Coach of the Year Odds
NBA betting odds used for these Coach of the Year predictions are current as of Sept. 4, and courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
- Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder (+700)
- Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat (+750)
- Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)
- Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics (+1000)
- Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets (+1200)
- Quin Snyder, Atlanta Hawks (+1200)
- Frank Vogel, Phoenix Suns (+1400)
- B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland Cavaliers (+1500)
- Will Hardy, Utah Jazz (+1600)
- Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies (+1600)
There are a lot of familiar names among the favorites for this award, although some are with new teams.
After retooling their roster over the summer, the Suns named Frank Vogel, who won a championship with the Lakers, as their new coach.
Nick Nurse, who previously won this award as the coach of the Raptors, will now lead the 76ers.
Who Will Win NBA Coach of the Year in 2024?
Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder (+700)
The Thunder took a significant step forward last season, qualifying for the NBA Play-In Tournament. They finished with a 40-42 record, a vast improvement from their 24-58 record the previous season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the main reason for their success, but they have also developed a talented young roster.
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Daigneault also received recognition for OKC’s performance, coming in second place in the Coach of the Year voting. While he didn’t get any first-place votes, he received 48 second-place votes and 20 third-place votes.
The Thunder should be in an even better spot this year with Chet Holmgren set to play after missing last season due to injury. If they have a winning record and make the playoffs, Daigneault will have a great chance to win this award.
NBA Coach of the Year Favorites
Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat (+750)
The Heat didn’t exactly have a great 2022-23 regular season. They were 17-24 on the road, which contributed to their overall record of 44-38. The season prior, they went 53-29 to obtain the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Despite a lackluster performance during the regular season, Miami made an improbable playoff run that saw it reach the NBA Finals. While it ultimately fell to Denver, the fact that Jimmy Butler and Co. made it that far was a testament to the team’s top players and Spoelstra.
While Spoelstra could find himself in the running for this award, the Heat didn’t make any significant improvements during the offseason. Unless they were to vault back to a top-three record in the conference, Spoelstra might not receive many votes.
Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)
Nurse was the coach of a Raptors team that finished with a disappointing 41-41 record last season. While they made the play-in tournament, they were bounced in their first game against the Bulls.
Despite having previously won a championship with the franchise, Toronto decided to part ways with Nurse. He didn’t take long to find a new home, quickly landing with the 76ers.
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Nurse is a great coach and takes over a talented roster that has disappointed in the playoffs. Still, Philadelphia was 54-28 last season, so it’s difficult to envision the Sixers significantly improving on that mark.
That could put Nurse in a tough spot for this award, especially if the James Harden situation isn’t resolved sooner rather than later.
NBA Coach of the Year Contenders
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics (+1000)
The Celtics finished last season 57-25 in Mazzulla’s first year as head coach. That was good for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, just one game back of the top-seeded Bucks. For his efforts, Mazzulla finished third in the Coach of the Year voting.
As good as the regular season was for Boston, not reaching the NBA Finals was a major disappointment, especially since the Bucks had already been eliminated. Mazzulla took plenty of heat during the offseason, but the Celtics are sticking with him as their leader.
They still have a very talented roster that should win more than 50 games, which should again put Mazzulla among the contenders for this award.
Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets (+1200)
The Nuggets earned the top seed in the Western Conference last season with their 53-29 record. Still, Malone came in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting. He would go on to have the last laugh, winning the NBA title.
- Can Denver repeat? Read more in our 2024 NBA Finals odds.
Malone is in a tough spot to win this award. The Nuggets have brought back the core of their roster, which means expectations are high for them to have another great record.
If Denver doesn’t finish among the top-three teams in the West, that would likely be considered a disappointment. However, if the Nuggets race out to a top seed and challenge for 60 wins, the combination of that and recently winning a title could help Malone’s chances of being honored.
NBA Coach of the Year Sleepers
Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies (+1600)
The Grizzlies are coming off a great season in which they finished 51-31 and claimed the second seed in the West. Still, Jenkins received only one second-place vote and two third-place votes for the Coach of the Year.
Memphis’ season was marred by Ja Morant’s off-court issues, which have carried over into this season. However, the fact that Morant is suspended for the first 25 games of the season is the reason why Jenkins is a solid sleeper pick for this award.
If the Grizzlies play well without Morant, it would look really good for Jenkins. They have a capable replacement in Marcus Smart, who they acquired from the Celtics.
If they could earn the top seed in the conference despite the Morant issue, Jenkins would have to receive some consideration for this award.
Darvin Ham, Los Angeles Lakers (+2200)
Ham was not put in a situation to succeed in his first season in Los Angeles. Russell Westbrook was not a good fit alongside LeBron James, and the roster lacked shooting.
However, the Lakers made some significant moves at the trade deadline that helped them finish with a 43-39 record. They then reached the Western Conference Finals before being swept by the Nuggets.
The team that Ham enters this season with is vastly superior to what he started with last season. LA added even more shooting by signing Gabe Vincent and should continue to improve by giving more playing time to Austin Reaves, a leading contender in the preseason NBA Most Improved Player odds.
If James and Anthony Davis can stay healthy enough for them to win at least 50 games, Ham might find his name in the discussion for Coach of the Year.
Previous NBA Coach of the Year Winners
2023: Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
2022: Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns
2021: Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks
2020: Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
2019: Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks
2018: Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors
2017: Mike D’Antoni, Houston Rockets
2016: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
2015: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks
2014: Greg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs