Sacramento's Mike Brown took the NBA Coach of the Year odds by storm last year, leading a revival that saw the Kings end their eons-long playoff drought by winning the Pacific Division.
This season, the NBA odds tell a different story, as Brown (+2,500) would become the first coach ever to repeat as COY winner were he to win this award — largely predicated on exceeding expectations or overcoming unexpected adversity — again.
Instead, there's a new wave of contenders atop the odds board, with a leap-ready squad's coach sitting as the favorite.
Let's take a look at the upcoming season's NBA Coach of the Year odds, and which contenders could be exceeding expectations.
Odds to win NBA Coach of the Year
| Coach | Team |  |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Daigneault |  Oklahoma City Thunder |
+650 |
| Adrian Griffin |  Milwaukee Bucks |
+700 |
| Erik Spoelstra |  Miami Heat |
+800 |
| Joe Mazzulla |  Boston Celtics |
+850 |
| Michael Malone |  Denver Nuggets |
+900 |
| Nick Nurse |  Philadelphia 76ers |
+1,000 |
| Frank Vogel |  Phoenix Suns |
+1,300 |
| Taylor Jenkins |  Memphis Grizzlies |
+1,400 |
| JB Bickerstaff |  Cleveland Cavaliers |
+1,600 |
| Quin Snyder |  Atlanta Hawks |
+1,800 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, September 27, 2023.
Latest NBA Coach of the Year award odds update
9/27/2023: This market had been dormant for weeks, but Wednesday's blockbuster trade landed Damian Lillard in Milwaukee, spiking rookie head coach Adrian Griffin to second choice at +700, up from +1,200.
While Griffin's job just got a whole lot easier with arguably the greatest inside-out offensive combo in NBA history at this disposal, expectations will now be sky-high, and this award isn't kind to rookie head coaches, as one hasn't won COY in 23 years.
Previous COY betting action
9/15/2023: The Thunder's Mark Daigneault sits atop a relatively tight field preseason, with OKC teeming with upside and seemingly ready to ascend the West hierarchy. Behind him sit the Heat's Erik Spoelstra — fresh off yet another Finals run — and the Celtics' Joe Mazzulla, looking to make even more of an impact with a full season of expectations under his belt.
Overall, the field's priced very tightly, as this is a high-variance award that's largely based on narrative, where any number of surprise contenders can emerge midseason. While the pieces are mostly in place for Daigneault & Co. to contend, don't be surprised if this board looks entirely different come December or January.
4/19/2023: Mike Brown was named the NBA's first unanimous Coach of the Year winner, leading the Kings to their first postseason appearance since the Mesozoic Era. Brown swept all 100 first-place votes, beating out finalists Mark Daignault of OKC and Boston's Joe Mazzulla.
Understanding NBA Coach of the Year odds
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2019-20's Rookie of the Year race as an example:
As the season progressed, with Ja Morant having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number:
- Ja Morant -500
This means that a bettor needs to wager $500 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such:
- Zion Williamson +650
Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
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NBA Coach of the Year trends
- Mike Brown's 2023 victory was the first time in 10 years (excluding COVID-altered schedules — 2019-20, 2020-21) the Coach of the Year's team hadn't won 55+ games.
- Four coaches (Mike Budenholzer, Gregg Popovich, Tom Thibodeau, Mike Brown) have won COY multiple times since 2009.
- No rookie head coach has won Coach of the Year since Doc Rivers (2000).
- Dating back to the award's inception in 1963, no coach has ever won COY in back-to-back seasons.
NBA Coach of the Year history
| Year | NBA Coach of the Year Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Mike Brown | Sacramento Kings |
| 2021-22 | Monty Williams | Phoenix Suns |
| 2020-21 | Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks |
| 2019-20 | Nick Nurse | Toronto Raptors |
| 2018-19 | Mike Budenholzer | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2017-18 | Dwane Casey | Toronto Raptors |
| 2016-17 | Mike D'Antoni | Houston Rockets |
| 2015-16 | Steve Kerr | Golden State Warriors |
| 2014-15 | Mike Budenholzer | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2013-14 | Gregg Popovich | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2012-13 | George Karl | Denver Nuggets |
| 2011-12 | Gregg Popovich | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2010-11 | Tom Thibodeau | Chicago Bulls |
| 2009-10 | Scott Brooks | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2008-09 | Mike Brown | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2007-08 | Byron Scott | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2006-07 | Sam Mitchell | Toronto Raptors |
| 2005-06 | Avery Johnson | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2004-05 | Mike D'Antoni | Phoenix Suns |
| 2003-04 | Hubie Brown | Memphis Grizzlies |
NBA Coach of the Year Odds FAQ
Sacramento's Mike Brown won the 2023 COY award.
Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Gregg Popovich are all tied as three-time winners.
No coach in the award's 61-year history has won in consecutive seasons.
