- Get the latest betting odds on the top favorites for the NBA's Coach of the Year race.
- Kenny Atkinson is the betting favorite to win Coach of the Year in 2024-25.
There is a science to predicting the NBA’s Coach of the Year.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Mark Daigneault won the award in 2023-24, leading his team to 57 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City had a win increase of 17 games from the prior season, clearing its preseason win total by 12.5 games.
And all those factors follow a familiar pattern in this market.
Over the last 14 seasons since 2010-11, the Coach of the Year has had an average playoff seed of 1.7. Nine of the 14 winners have claimed the No. 1 seed.
The average win total for the last 14 Coach of the Year winners has been 57.2, which jumps to 59.7 by removing the three shortened seasons. The previous 14 recipients of this award have guided their respective teams to an average win improvement of 11.6 compared to the prior season.
Lastly, the average preseason win total since 2010-11 has been 45.2. Voters want to reward a coach of a team that exceeds expectations.
Simply put, I’m targeting a coach of a team with this profile:
- No. 1 seed potential
- 50 wins or fewer last year
- Path to clearing win total by double-digit games
Here’s a look at the latest NBA betting odds and who might be the best picks to win this year’s award:
Odds to Win 2025 NBA Coach of the Year
| Name | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Kenny Atkinson | Cavaliers | -325 |
| J.B. Bickerstaff | Pistons | +200 |
| Mark Daigneault | Thunder | +2200 |
| JJ Redick | Lakers | +15000 |
NBA Coach of the Year Odds: Kenny Atkinson is Betting Favorite
Based on the latest NBA odds, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson is the betting favorite (-325) for an implied probability of 76.47% to win NBA’s Coach of the Year award. His odds were -1600 a couple of weeks ago, suggesting the market believes this race could be competitive down the stretch.
Atkinson was as long as +3000 in the preseason when I suggested him as one of my favorite picks (along with Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer – yikes) in this market.
Under Atkinson’s leadership, the Cavs have been one of the bigger surprises this season. Their offense has improved and the defense remains strong, so they have a four-game lead on the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
That was the theory behind investing in the Cavaliers’ division odds and why Atkinson was such a solid bet in the Coach of the Year market in his first season at the helm. This team had so much upside after winning between 44 and 51 games the last three campaigns.
Cleveland’s former coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, appears to be Atkinson’s primary challenger in this market. He’s guided the Detroit Pistons to a playoff berth after being the worst team in the league last year.
But this award has typically rewarded excellence, and Atkinson has the edge with his Cavs standing atop the East. I’m not buying that voters will give this award to the person Atkinson replaced with a resume that proves who is the better coach.
Prediction: Kenny Atkinson (-325)
NBA Coach of the Year Best Bets for 2025
- Mike Budenholzer +2500 (0.2 units) on Sept. 17.
- Kenny Atkinson +3000 (0.15 units) on Sept. 17.
I’ll update this page with my best bets in the NBA Coach of the Year market throughout the season.
NBA Coach of the Year Betting Splits
Here are the latest betting insights for the NBA Coach of the Year market at the online sportsbook:
- Most tickets: JJ Reddick 17.7%
- Highest handle: Kenny Atkinson 25.9%
- Biggest liability: J.B. Bickerstaff
- Odds leader: Kenny Atkinson
2023-24 NBA Coach of the Year Voting
| Rank | Name | Team | Vote Pts | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Daigneault | OKC | 473 | 89 |
| 2 | Jamahl Mosley | ORL | 158 | 4 |
| 3 | Chris Finch | MIN | 105 | 1 |
| 4 | Joe Mazzulla | BOS | 79 | 2 |
| 5 | Tom Thibodeau | NYK | 59 | 2 |
| 6 | Erik Spoelstra | MIA | 6 | 1 |
| 7 | Ime Udoka | HOU | 6 | 0 |
| 8 | Rick Carlisle | IND | 2 | 0 |
List of Coach of the Year Winners
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Mark Daigneault | OKC |
| 2022-23 | Mike Brown | SAC |
| 2021-22 | Monty Williams | PHO |
| 2020-21 | Tom Thibodeau | NYK |
| 2019-20 | Nick Nurse | TOR |
| 2018-19 | Mike Budenholzer | MIL |
| 2017-18 | Dwane Casey | TOR |
| 2016-17 | Mike D'Antoni | HOU |
| 2015-16 | Steve Kerr | GSW |
| 2014-15 | Mike Budenholzer | ATL |
| 2013-14 | Gregg Popovich | SAS |
| 2012-13 | George Karl | DEN |
| 2011-12 | Gregg Popovich | SAS |
| 2010-11 | Tom Thibodeau | CHI |
| 2009-10 | Scott Brooks | OKC |
| 2008-09 | Mike Brown | CLE |
| 2007-08 | Byron Scott | NOH |
| 2006-07 | Sam Mitchell | TOR |
| 2005-06 | Avery Johnson | DAL |
| 2004-05 | Mike D'Antoni | PHO |
| 2003-04 | Hubie Brown | MEM |
| 2002-03 | Gregg Popovich | SAS |
| 2001-02 | Rick Carlisle | DET |
| 2000-01 | Larry Brown | PHI |
| 1999-00 | Doc Rivers | ORL |
Who Has Won the Most Coach of the Year Awards in NBA History?
Three different coaches have won three Coach of the year awards in NBA history:
- Don Nelson (1983, 1985, 1992)
- Gregg Popovich (2003, 2012, 2014)
- Pat Riley (1990, 1993, 1997)
Larry Brown also won three ABA Coach of the Year awards, claiming the honor in 1973, 1975, and 1976.
How Many Cavaliers Coaches Have Won Coach of the Year?
Bill Fitch, the franchise’s first head coach, and Mike Brown are the only Cavaliers coaches who have won the NBA Coach of the Year award.
- Mike Brown won Coach of the Year in 2008-09.
- Bill Fitch earned Coach of the Year in 1975-76.
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