NBA Coach of the Year Award
National Basketball Association awards and honors |
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Team awards |
Individual awards |
Honors |
Sport | Basketball |
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League | National Basketball Association |
Awarded for | Coach deemed most integral to their team's success in regular season of the National Basketball Association |
History | |
First award | 1962–63 |
Most wins | Don Nelson Pat Riley Gregg Popovich (tied, 3) |
Most recent | Mark 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
[edit]![A man, wearing a brown coat, white shirt and black tie, standing in front of a collage.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Auerbach_Lipofsky.jpg/170px-Auerbach_Lipofsky.jpg)
![A man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, at a basketball game.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Phil_Jackson_3_cropped.jpg/170px-Phil_Jackson_3_cropped.jpg)
![A man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, at a basketball game.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Mike_D%27Antoni_2010.jpg/170px-Mike_D%27Antoni_2010.jpg)
![A man with dark hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, at a basketball game.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Tom_Thibodeau_cropped.jpg/170px-Tom_Thibodeau_cropped.jpg)
![A man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie, sitting at a basketball game.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/George_Karl.jpg/170px-George_Karl.jpg)
^ | 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 | ![]() |
St. Louis Hawks | 48–32 | .600 | +.237 |
1963–64 | Alex Hannum* | ![]() |
San Francisco Warriors | 48–32 | .600 | +.212 |
1964–65 | Red Auerbach*[a] | ![]() |
Boston Celtics | 62–18 | .775 | +.037 |
1965–66 | Dolph Schayes | ![]() |
Philadelphia 76ers | 55–25 | .688 | +.188 |
1966–67 | Johnny Kerr | ![]() |
Chicago Bulls | 33–48 | .407 | – |
1967–68 | Richie Guerin | ![]() |
St. Louis Hawks (2) | 56–26 | .683 | +.202 |
1968–69 | Gene Shue | ![]() |
Baltimore Bullets | 57–25 | .695 | +.256 |
1969–70 | Red Holzman*[a] | ![]() |
New York Knicks | 60–22 | .732 | +.073 |
1970–71 | Dick Motta | ![]() |
Chicago Bulls (2) | 51–31 | .622 | +.146 |
1971–72 | Bill Sharman* | ![]() |
Los Angeles Lakers | 69–13 | .841 | +.256 |
1972–73 | Tom Heinsohn* | ![]() |
Boston Celtics (2) | 68–14 | .829 | +.146 |
1973–74 | Ray Scott | ![]() |
Detroit Pistons | 52–30 | .634 | +.146 |
1974–75 | Phil Johnson | ![]() |
Kansas City–Omaha Kings | 44–38 | .537 | +.135 |
1975–76 | Bill Fitch*[a] | ![]() |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 49–33 | .598 | +.110 |
1976–77 | Tom Nissalke | ![]() |
Houston Rockets | 49–33 | .598 | +.110 |
1977–78 | Hubie Brown | ![]() |
Atlanta Hawks (3) | 41–41 | .500 | +.122 |
1978–79 | Cotton Fitzsimmons* | ![]() |
Kansas City Kings (2) | 48–34 | .585 | +.207 |
1979–80 | Bill Fitch*[a] (2) | ![]() |
Boston Celtics (3) | 61–21 | .744 | +.390 |
1980–81 | Jack McKinney | ![]() |
Indiana Pacers | 44–38 | .537 | +.086 |
1981–82 | Gene Shue (2) | ![]() |
Washington Bullets (2) | 43–39 | .524 | +.048 |
1982–83 | Don Nelson*[a] | ![]() |
Milwaukee Bucks | 51–31 | .622 | -.049 |
1983–84 | Frank Layden | ![]() |
Utah Jazz | 45–37 | .549 | +.183 |
1984–85 | Don Nelson*[a] (2) | ![]() |
Milwaukee Bucks (2) | 59–23 | .720 | +.110 |
1985–86 | Mike Fratello | ![]() |
Atlanta Hawks (4) | 50–32 | .610 | +.195 |
1986–87 | Mike Schuler | ![]() |
Portland Trail Blazers | 49–33 | .598 | +.110 |
1987–88 | Doug Moe | ![]() |
Denver Nuggets | 54–28 | .659 | +.208 |
1988–89 | Cotton Fitzsimmons* (2) | ![]() |
Phoenix Suns | 55–27 | .671 | +.330 |
1989–90 | Pat Riley*[a] | ![]() |
Los Angeles Lakers (2) | 63–19 | .768 | +.073 |
1990–91 | Don Chaney | ![]() |
Houston Rockets (2) | 52–30 | .634 | +.134 |
1991–92 | Don Nelson*[a] (3) | ![]() |
Golden State Warriors (2) | 55–27 | .671 | +.134 |
1992–93 | Pat Riley*[a] (2) | ![]() |
New York Knicks (2) | 60–22 | .732 | +.110 |
1993–94 | Lenny Wilkens*[a] | ![]() |
Atlanta Hawks (5) | 57–25 | .695 | +.171 |
1994–95 | Del Harris | ![]() |
Los Angeles Lakers (3) | 48–34 | .585 | +.183 |
1995–96 | Phil Jackson*[a] | ![]() |
Chicago Bulls (3) | 72–10 | .878 | +.305 |
1996–97 | Pat Riley*[a] (3) | ![]() |
Miami Heat | 61–21 | .744 | +.232 |
1997–98 | Larry Bird | ![]() |
Indiana Pacers (2) | 58–24 | .707 | +.231 |
1998–99 | Mike Dunleavy | ![]() |
Portland Trail Blazers (2) | 35–15 | .700 | +.139 |
1999–00 | Doc Rivers^ | ![]() |
Orlando Magic | 41–41 | .500 | -.160 |
2000–01 | Larry Brown* | ![]() |
Philadelphia 76ers (2) | 56–26 | .683 | +.085 |
2001–02 | Rick Carlisle^ | ![]() |
Detroit Pistons (2) | 50–32 | .610 | +.220 |
2002–03 | Gregg Popovich^* | ![]() |
San Antonio Spurs | 60–22 | .732 | +.025 |
2003–04 | Hubie Brown (2) | ![]() |
Memphis Grizzlies | 50–32 | .610 | +.269 |
2004–05 | Mike D'Antoni | ![]() ![]() |
Phoenix Suns (2) | 62–20 | .756 | +.402 |
2005–06 | Avery Johnson | ![]() |
Dallas Mavericks | 60–22 | .732 | +.025 |
2006–07 | Sam Mitchell | ![]() |
Toronto Raptors | 47–35 | .573 | +.244 |
2007–08 | Byron Scott | ![]() |
New Orleans Hornets | 56–26 | .683 | +.207 |
2008–09 | Mike Brown^ | ![]() |
Cleveland Cavaliers (2) | 66–16 | .805 | +.256 |
2009–10 | Scott Brooks | ![]() |
Oklahoma City Thunder | 50–32 | .610 | +.330 |
2010–11 | Tom Thibodeau^ | ![]() |
Chicago Bulls (4) | 62–20 | .756 | +.256 |
2011–12 | Gregg Popovich^* (2) | ![]() |
San Antonio Spurs (2) | 50–16 | .758 | +.014 |
2012–13 | George Karl* | ![]() |
Denver Nuggets (2) | 57–25 | .695 | +.119 |
2013–14 | Gregg Popovich^* (3) | ![]() |
San Antonio Spurs (3) | 62–20 | .756 | +.049 |
2014–15 | Mike Budenholzer^ | ![]() |
Atlanta Hawks (6) | 60–22 | .732 | +.269 |
2015–16 | Steve Kerr^ | ![]() |
Golden State Warriors (3) | 73–9 | .890 | +.073 |
2016–17 | Mike D'Antoni (2) | ![]() ![]() |
Houston Rockets (3) | 55–27 | .671 | +.171 |
2017–18 | Dwane Casey | ![]() |
Toronto Raptors (2) | 59–23 | .720 | +.098 |
2018–19 | Mike Budenholzer^ (2) | ![]() |
Milwaukee Bucks (3) | 60–22 | .732 | +.195 |
2019–20 | Nick Nurse^ | ![]() |
Toronto Raptors (3) | 46–18[c] | .719 | +.012 |
2020–21 | Tom Thibodeau^ (2) | ![]() |
New York Knicks (3) | 41–31 | .569 | +.251 |
2021–22 | Monty Williams^ | ![]() |
Phoenix Suns (3) | 64–18 | .780 | +.072 |
2022–23 | Mike Brown^ † (2) | ![]() |
Sacramento Kings (3) | 48–34 | .585 | +.219 |
2023–24 | Mark Daigneault^ | ![]() |
Oklahoma City Thunder (2) | 57–25 | .695 | +.207 |
Multi-time winners
[edit]Awards | Coach | Team(s) | Years |
---|---|---|---|
3 | ![]() |
Milwaukee Bucks (2), Golden State Warriors (1) | 1983, 1985, 1992 |
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Los Angeles Lakers (1), New York Knicks (1), Miami Heat (1) | 1990, 1993, 1997 | |
![]() |
San Antonio Spurs | 2003, 2012, 2014 | |
2 | ![]() |
Baltimore Bullets (1), Washington Bullets (1) | 1969, 1982 |
![]() |
Cleveland Cavaliers (1), Boston Celtics (1) | 1976, 1980 | |
![]() |
Atlanta Hawks (1), Memphis Grizzlies (1) | 1978, 2004 | |
![]() |
Kansas City Kings (1), Phoenix Suns (1) | 1979, 1989 | |
![]() |
Phoenix Suns (1), Houston Rockets (1) | 2005, 2017 | |
![]() |
Atlanta Hawks (1), Milwaukee Bucks (1) | 2015, 2019 | |
![]() |
Chicago Bulls (1), New York Knicks (1) | 2011, 2021 | |
![]() |
Cleveland Cavaliers (1), Sacramento Kings (1) | 2009, 2023 |
Teams
[edit]See also
[edit]- NBA records
Sports portal
- NBCA Coach of the Year Award, awarded by NBA coaches' union
- NBL (United States) Coach of the Year Award
Notes
[edit]- ^ 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]
- ^ a b D'Antoni also holds Italian citizenship and has represented Italy at international level.[8]
- ^ 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
[edit]- 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
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Heat coach Pat Riley among 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame class". ESPN. April 7, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
- ^ "Johnny "Red" Kerr Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Pandian, Ananth (April 26, 2016). "Warriors' Steve Kerr wins the 2016 NBA Coach of the Year award". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ "Sacramento's Mike Brown unanimous Coach of the Year winner".
- ^ "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
- ^ "Mike D'Antoni". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2008.