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NBA Coach of the Year

For the NBA coaches' union award, see NBCA Coach of the Year Award.
National Basketball Association awards and honors
Team awards
Individual awards
Honors
NBA Coach of the Year
SportBasketball
LeagueNational Basketball Association
Awarded forCoach deemed most integral to their team's success in regular season of the National Basketball Association
History
First award1962–63
Most winsDon Nelson
Pat Riley
Gregg Popovich (tied, 3)
Most recentMark Daigneault
Oklahoma City Thunder

The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA championships from 1956 to 1966. The winner is selected at the end of the regular season by a panel of sportswriters from the United States and Canada, each of whom casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. Each first-place vote is worth five points; each second-place vote is worth three points; and each third-place vote is worth one point. The person with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award.[1]

Since its inception, the award has been given to 40 different coaches. The most recent award winner is current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson and Pat Riley have each won the award three times, while Hubie Brown, Mike Brown, Mike Budenholzer, Mike D'Antoni, Bill Fitch, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Gene Shue, and Tom Thibodeau have each won it twice. No coach has won consecutive Coach of the Year awards. Riley is the only coach to be named Coach of the Year with three franchises.[2] Tom Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, and Lenny Wilkens are the only recipients to have been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both player and coach. Johnny Kerr is the only person to win the award with a losing record (33–48 with the Chicago Bulls in 1966–67). Kerr was honored because he had guided the Bulls to the NBA Playoffs in their first season in the league.[3] Doc Rivers is the only person to win the award despite his team not making the playoffs (41–41 with the Orlando Magic in 1999–2000). Only five recipients also coached the team that won the championship the same season: Red Auerbach, Red Holzman, Bill Sharman, Phil Jackson, and Gregg Popovich. Popovich is the only NBA Coach of the Year recipient to win the championship in the same season twice, winning the NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and 2014. 2020 winner and former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is the only coach to receive this honor in both the NBA and the NBA G League, having received the G League award in 2011.[4]

2015–16 recipient Steve Kerr only coached 39 of the 82 games in the season due to complications from offseason back surgery, though he received credit for all of the Golden State Warriors' 73 wins that season. Assistant coach Luke Walton served as interim head coach for the other 43 games for the Warriors, receiving one second-place vote and two third-place votes.[5] Kerr asked the league to award Walton with the wins accumulated during Kerr's medical recovery time, but the NBA refused to do so because under league rules interim head coaches do not have win-loss records at all. Mike Brown became the first unanimous Coach of the Year recipient in NBA history in the 2022–23 season.[6]

Winners

A man, wearing a brown coat, white shirt and black tie, standing in front of a collage.
Hall of Famer Red Auerbach won the award in the 1964–65 season. The award was later named after him.
A man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, at a basketball game.
Hall of Famer Phil Jackson won the award in the 1995–96 season, coaching the Chicago Bulls to 72 wins in a season.
A man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, at a basketball game.
Mike D'Antoni led the 2004–05 Phoenix Suns to a 33-win increase from the previous season.
A man with dark hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, at a basketball game.
Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau won the award in the 2010–11 and 2020–21 seasons.
A man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, sitting at a basketball game.
George Karl led the 2012–13 Denver Nuggets to a 57–25 record without an NBA All-Star.
A man with white hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and orange tie, sitting at a basketball game.
Gregg Popovich led the 2013–14 San Antonio Spurs to their 5th NBA championship, and earned his 3rd NBA Coach of the Year Award that same season.
^ Denotes head coach who is currently active in the NBA as a head coach
* Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach
† Denotes coach was a unanimous winner
Bold Team won NBA championship for that season
Coach (#) Denotes the number of times the coach has been selected
Team (#) Denotes the number of times a coach from this team has won
W–L Win–loss record for that season
Win% Winning percentage for that season
Win% ± Winning percentage change from previous season
Season Coach Nationality Team W–L Win% Win% ±
1962–63 Harry Gallatin  United States St. Louis Hawks 48–32 .600 +.237
1963–64 Alex Hannum*  United States San Francisco Warriors 48–32 .600 +.212
1964–65 Red Auerbach*[a]  United States Boston Celtics 62–18 .775 +.037
1965–66 Dolph Schayes  United States Philadelphia 76ers 55–25 .688 +.188
1966–67 Johnny Kerr  United States Chicago Bulls 33–48 .407 –
1967–68 Richie Guerin  United States St. Louis Hawks (2) 56–26 .683 +.202
1968–69 Gene Shue  United States Baltimore Bullets 57–25 .695 +.256
1969–70 Red Holzman*[a]  United States New York Knicks 60–22 .732 +.073
1970–71 Dick Motta  United States Chicago Bulls (2) 51–31 .622 +.146
1971–72 Bill Sharman*  United States Los Angeles Lakers 69–13 .841 +.256
1972–73 Tom Heinsohn*  United States Boston Celtics (2) 68–14 .829 +.146
1973–74 Ray Scott  United States Detroit Pistons 52–30 .634 +.146
1974–75 Phil Johnson  United States Kansas City–Omaha Kings 44–38 .537 +.135
1975–76 Bill Fitch*[a]  United States Cleveland Cavaliers 49–33 .598 +.110
1976–77 Tom Nissalke  United States Houston Rockets 49–33 .598 +.110
1977–78 Hubie Brown  United States Atlanta Hawks (3) 41–41 .500 +.122
1978–79 Cotton Fitzsimmons*  United States Kansas City Kings (2) 48–34 .585 +.207
1979–80 Bill Fitch*[a] (2)  United States Boston Celtics (3) 61–21 .744 +.390
1980–81 Jack McKinney  United States Indiana Pacers 44–38 .537 +.086
1981–82 Gene Shue (2)  United States Washington Bullets (2) 43–39 .524 +.048
1982–83 Don Nelson*[a]  United States Milwaukee Bucks 51–31 .622 -.049
1983–84 Frank Layden  United States Utah Jazz 45–37 .549 +.183
1984–85 Don Nelson*[a] (2)  United States Milwaukee Bucks (2) 59–23 .720 +.110
1985–86 Mike Fratello  United States Atlanta Hawks (4) 50–32 .610 +.195
1986–87 Mike Schuler  United States Portland Trail Blazers 49–33 .598 +.110
1987–88 Doug Moe  United States Denver Nuggets 54–28 .659 +.208
1988–89 Cotton Fitzsimmons* (2)  United States Phoenix Suns 55–27 .671 +.330
1989–90 Pat Riley*[a]  United States Los Angeles Lakers (2) 63–19 .768 +.073
1990–91 Don Chaney  United States Houston Rockets (2) 52–30 .634 +.134
1991–92 Don Nelson*[a] (3)  United States Golden State Warriors (2) 55–27 .671 +.134
1992–93 Pat Riley*[a] (2)  United States New York Knicks (2) 60–22 .732 +.110
1993–94 Lenny Wilkens*[a]  United States Atlanta Hawks (5) 57–25 .695 +.171
1994–95 Del Harris  United States Los Angeles Lakers (3) 48–34 .585 +.183
1995–96 Phil Jackson*[a]  United States Chicago Bulls (3) 72–10 .878 +.305
1996–97 Pat Riley*[a] (3)  United States Miami Heat 61–21 .744 +.232
1997–98 Larry Bird  United States Indiana Pacers (2) 58–24 .707 +.231
1998–99 Mike Dunleavy  United States Portland Trail Blazers (2) 35–15 .700 +.139
1999–00 Doc Rivers^  United States Orlando Magic 41–41 .500 -.160
2000–01 Larry Brown*  United States Philadelphia 76ers (2) 56–26 .683 +.085
2001–02 Rick Carlisle^  United States Detroit Pistons (2) 50–32 .610 +.220
2002–03 Gregg Popovich^*  United States San Antonio Spurs 60–22 .732 +.025
2003–04 Hubie Brown (2)  United States Memphis Grizzlies 50–32 .610 +.269
2004–05 Mike D'Antoni  United States
 Italy[b] 		Phoenix Suns (2) 62–20 .756 +.402
2005–06 Avery Johnson  United States Dallas Mavericks 60–22 .732 +.025
2006–07 Sam Mitchell  United States Toronto Raptors 47–35 .573 +.244
2007–08 Byron Scott  United States New Orleans Hornets 56–26 .683 +.207
2008–09 Mike Brown^  United States Cleveland Cavaliers (2) 66–16 .805 +.256
2009–10 Scott Brooks  United States Oklahoma City Thunder 50–32 .610 +.330
2010–11 Tom Thibodeau^  United States Chicago Bulls (4) 62–20 .756 +.256
2011–12 Gregg Popovich^* (2)  United States San Antonio Spurs (2) 50–16 .758 +.014
2012–13 George Karl*  United States Denver Nuggets (2) 57–25 .695 +.119
2013–14 Gregg Popovich^* (3)  United States San Antonio Spurs (3) 62–20 .756 +.049
2014–15 Mike Budenholzer^  United States Atlanta Hawks (6) 60–22 .732 +.269
2015–16 Steve Kerr^  United States Golden State Warriors (3) 73–9 .890 +.073
2016–17 Mike D'Antoni (2)  United States
 Italy[b] 		Houston Rockets (3) 55–27 .671 +.171
2017–18 Dwane Casey  United States Toronto Raptors (2) 59–23 .720 +.098
2018–19 Mike Budenholzer^ (2)  United States Milwaukee Bucks (3) 60–22 .732 +.195
2019–20 Nick Nurse^  United States Toronto Raptors (3) 46–18[c] .719 +.012
2020–21 Tom Thibodeau^ (2)  United States New York Knicks (3) 41–31 .569 +.251
2021–22 Monty Williams^  United States Phoenix Suns (3) 64–18 .780 +.072
2022–23 Mike Brown^ † (2)  United States Sacramento Kings (3) 48–34 .585 +.219
2023–24 Mark Daigneault^  United States Oklahoma City Thunder (2) 57–25 .695 +.207

Multi-time winners

Awards Coach Team(s) Years
3 United States Don Nelson Milwaukee Bucks (2), Golden State Warriors (1) 1983, 1985, 1992
United States Pat Riley Los Angeles Lakers (1), New York Knicks (1), Miami Heat (1) 1990, 1993, 1997
United States Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs 2003, 2012, 2014
2 United States Gene Shue Baltimore Bullets (1), Washington Bullets (1) 1969, 1982
United States Bill Fitch Cleveland Cavaliers (1), Boston Celtics (1) 1976, 1980
United States Hubie Brown Atlanta Hawks (1), Memphis Grizzlies (1) 1978, 2004
United States Cotton Fitzsimmons Kansas City Kings (1), Phoenix Suns (1) 1979, 1989
United States Mike D'Antoni Phoenix Suns (1), Houston Rockets (1) 2005, 2017
United States Mike Budenholzer Atlanta Hawks (1), Milwaukee Bucks (1) 2015, 2019
United States Tom Thibodeau Chicago Bulls (1), New York Knicks (1) 2011, 2021
United States Mike Brown Cleveland Cavaliers (1), Sacramento Kings (1) 2009, 2023

Teams

Awards Teams Years
6 Atlanta Hawks / St. Louis Hawks 1963, 1968, 1978, 1986, 1994, 2015
4 Chicago Bulls 1967, 1971, 1996, 2011
3 Boston Celtics 1965, 1973, 1980
Los Angeles Lakers 1972, 1990, 1995
San Antonio Spurs 2003, 2012, 2014
Golden State Warriors 1964, 1992, 2016
Houston Rockets 1977, 1991, 2017
Milwaukee Bucks 1983, 1985, 2019
Toronto Raptors 2007, 2018, 2020
New York Knicks 1970, 1993, 2021
Phoenix Suns 1989, 2005, 2022
Sacramento Kings / Kansas City–Omaha Kings 1975, 1979, 2023
2 Cleveland Cavaliers 1976, 2009
Denver Nuggets 1988, 2013
Detroit Pistons 1974, 2002
Indiana Pacers 1981, 1998
Oklahoma City Thunder 2010, 2024
Philadelphia 76ers 1966, 2001
Portland Trail Blazers 1987, 1999
Washington Wizards / Baltimore Bullets / Washington Bullets 1969, 1982
1 Memphis Grizzlies 2004
Miami Heat 1997
New Orleans Pelicans / New Orleans Hornets 2008
Orlando Magic 2000
Utah Jazz 1984
Dallas Mavericks 2006
0 Minnesota Timberwolves None
Brooklyn Nets
Los Angeles Clippers

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Was selected as one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History[7]
  2. ^ a b D'Antoni also holds Italian citizenship and has represented Italy at international level.[8]
  3. ^ Record reflects games played before the NBA suspended its 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the season resumed on July 30, 2020, the NBA announced that voting for that season's awards would be based solely on games played before the season was halted.[4]

References

General
  • "Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  • "NBA Coach of the Year". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
Specific
  1. ^ "Dallas' Avery Johnson Named 2005–06 NBA Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 28, 2006. Archived from the original on March 21, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
  2. ^ "Heat coach Pat Riley among 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame class". ESPN. April 7, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
  3. ^ "Johnny "Red" Kerr Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Toronto's Nick Nurse wins 2019-20 NBA Coach of the Year award" (Press release). NBA. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  5. ^ Pandian, Ananth (April 26, 2016). "Warriors' Steve Kerr wins the 2016 NBA Coach of the Year award". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  6. ^ "Sacramento's Mike Brown unanimous Coach of the Year winner".
  7. ^ "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
  8. ^ "Mike D'Antoni". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2008.

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