There are a number of both coaches and teams exceeding expectations and doing quite well this season, creating stiff competition in the NBA Coach of the Year race. Five candidates, however, have separated themselves from the pack. Check out the rankings below.
NBA Coach of the Year Rankings
Numbers Five to Three
5. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
Spoelstra has been one of the top NBA coaches for quite some time now. Past success often limits recognition in NBA Coach of the Year awards.
This season, however, has been quite special for the Miami Heat. They’ve secured the first seed in the Eastern Conference and will have a homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Yes, Miami was in the Finals just two years ago, but Spoelstra should be recognized for his consistency. Furthermore, he has an innate ability to find hidden gems and transform them into great players.
4. Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
A second-half surge has the Toronto Raptors place fifth in the Eastern Conference. After mildly average seasons following the departure of Kawhi Leonard, Nurse remained focused on developing his players. Toronto still has key players from their 2019 championship team, but developed more talent and unlocked the potential of Scottie Barnes. Nurse’s Raptors are a feisty bunch who just missed out on eclipsing 50 wins.
3. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
After unsuccessful head coaching stints in the past, Kidd’s arrival to Dallas was met with uncertainty. Rick Carlisle’s previous coaching prowess was also a factor.
Kidd’s Mavericks struggled mightily out the gates, but he’s unlocked the perfect formula. Dallas quietly has one of the top records in the entire league, which was unforeseen after their early-season struggles. Kidd has a superstar talent in Luka Doncic, but outside of that his second-best player is either Jalen Brunson or the newly-arrived Spencer Dinwiddie. He’s exceeded expectations with the roster he has.
The Top Two NBA Coach of the Year Candidates
2. Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
Stifling defense. High-flying offense. Massive improvement from Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and others. Continuous winning despite injuries. What can’t Jenkins’ Grizzlies do?
Memphis is going to finish the regular season with the second-best record in the league. They also won their first-ever Southwest Division crown. After last season’s play-in appearance, Memphis was expected to be a playoff contender. Almost no one, however, foresaw this kind of improvement. The Grizzlies are a legitimate title contender who excel in each and every facet of the game. Jenkins deserves a lot of credit for this.
1. Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns
Some may say Williams was robbed of last season’s Coach of the Year award. If that’s the case, there’s no one more deserving this season. Phoenix was certainly expected to be good this year after appearing in the Finals last season. Entering with hefty expectations, they’ve only been better than most thought. There’s been no question that the Suns have been the best team all season long. They’ve also dealt with plenty of injuries, such as the most recent to Chris Paul, but they continue to find ways to win.
Williams gets the absolute best out of his players, and Phoenix’s record shows this. Even without Paul and/or Devin Booker, the Suns were nearly impossible to beat. Phoenix holds claim to the NBA’s best record and the top coaching job this season.
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