NBA Roundtable: Who Will Be the Coach of the Year?

By Kohl Rast

Sep 26, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 21: Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to game action against the Houston Rockets during the first half of Game Three in the 2017 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals on April 21, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

1 of 4

The NBA Coach of the Year award is often given to coaches who’s teams win a lot of games. People think that, to be the Coach of the Year, you have to coach the best or one of the best teams in the league. Although that is true in a lot of cases, that is not necessarily the criteria that people are looking for.

The real criteria is based more around which coach helped his team overachieve in a big way. You rarely see a coach of the year who didn’t make the playoffs and that is because that coach did not push his team past their expectations. Many coaches in the past, including one from the Dallas Mavericks, have shown just that.

The past winners of the Coach of the Year award include: Mike D’Antoni (2017, 2005), Steve Kerr (2016), Mike Budenholzer (2015), Gregg Popovich (2014, 2012, 2003), George Karl (2013), Tom Thibodeau (2011), and Scott Brooks (2010). Many of these coaches have proven themselves throughout their careers and others had successful seasons but they all earned their rewards in that respective season.

The Dallas Mavericks had one coach win the award in 2006 when Avery Johnson brought home the hardware after a 60-22 season. Rick Carlisle also won the award once while coaching the Detroit Pistons in 2002.

Let’s take a look at the staff picks for this year’s Coach of the Year.