Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has been named Coach of the Year, per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
This is an incredible feat for Daigneault. Not just because he “decisively” beat out his competition. Per Wojnarowski, this a field that includes: Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, and Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Notably, only NBA head coaches vote on the Coach of the Year. Therefore, this honor was granted by his peers, underscoring his coaching prowess.
ESPN Sources: The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Mark Daigneault has been voted the National Basketball Coaches Association’s NBA coach of the year. Voting is among the league’s 30 head coaches. pic.twitter.com/77LRg8mduG
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 15, 2024
Mark Daigneault Takes Home First NBA Award
With the Thunder having an average age of 24, Daigneault has led the youngest team in the modern era to the West’s No. 1 seed. It’s their first No. 1 seed since the 2013-14 season. At 57-25, Oklahoma City also has their highest win percentage (.695) in a decade. Furthermore, the Thunder and Boston Celtics are “the only two teams this season to rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency.”
This season, the Thunder ranked third in offensive rating (119.5) and fourth in defensive rating (112.1). Daigneault acknowledges Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-level performance as the driving force behind their two-way dominance. Nonetheless, his coaching can’t be ignored.
39 years old, Daigneault is highly regarded for his player development skills. The growth of Gilgeous-Alexander is perhaps the best example. However, Jalen Williams’ rapid evolution is further evidence of his ability.
Daigneault’s innovate approach and basketball IQ also make him a wizard with the clipboard, particularly after timeouts. That being said, installing a switch-heavy defensive scheme and motion offense isn’t out of the norm. Discipline and execution often differentiate teams with similar philosophies though.
To that point, Daigneault’s young Thunder have emulated their intelligent and level-headed head coach, leading to mature decision-making that goes beyond their years.
