Who Will Win The 2023 NBA Coach of the Year?

Steve Nash had a hellacious regular season, post-season, and off-season for the Brooklyn Nets. With both of the teams stars in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving publicly wanting out, and Durant wanting Nash fired, this NBA season is sure to be a doozy for the Nets. On paper, the team should be title favorites, but the vitriol and flat-out weirdness of the team is keeping them from reaching that level. If Nash is able to finally reunite the team and make them the favorite the world knows they should be, he will undoubtedly win Coach o f the year… but that may take a miracle. 

The Memphis Grizzlies were the biggest surprise team in the NBA last season, finishing with the second-best record in the west with a 56-26 record. While the talent on the team was tremendous, it was Jenkins who helped solidify the team as a contender throughout a myriad of injuries. If the Grizzlies are able to take the next step that many assume they are capable of and solidify themselves as title contenders, Jenkins and star-guard Ja Morant are surely going to get a heap of praise.

Monty Williams coached the Phoenix Suns to a league-best 64-18 record and took home the 2022 Coach of the Year award. That was the pinnacle of the Suns' season because, after this, they got thoroughly embarrassed in the playoffs, had a myriad of off-the-court drama, and seemingly fell out of favor with NBA fans. If Williams is able to solidify the team as still a championship contender, manage egos, help lead the team out of this dark chapter in their franchise, and also ensure his players are ready for the playoffs, Williams could very well go back-to-back with the Coach of the Year award.

Michael Malone and the Denver Nuggets had a hellacious season during the 2021-22 campaign. With 2 of the big three out for nearly the entire season, the Nuggets could still rely on league MVP Nikola Jokic to elevate the team to a 49-33 record. With a fully healthy squad, the Nuggets are looking to solidify themselves as title favorites, and with Malone's defensive and offensive repertoire, they can very easily be the best team in the league, which would greatly increase Malone's odds for Coach of the Year.

Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors shocked the league during the 2021-22 campaign by achieving a 48-34 record. A team that many expected to be towards the bottom of the league was suddenly the 5th seed and looked like they could actually go far. Of course, they didn't, however, the team seemed to gel around rookie of the year Scottie Barnes and it appears that the sky is the limit for the young man. Nurse always instilled a defensive mindset in his teams, and if he can elevate the Raptors to one of the league's best defenses and reach the top half of the standings, there is no doubt Nurse can win Coach of the Year.

Jason Kidd took over as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks for Rick Carlisle during the 2021-22 season and instilled a defensive-minded approach to winning basketball games, and it absolutely worked. The Mavs finished the season with a 52-30 record and managed to reach the Western Conference Finals. Now, in his second year with the team, Kidd will be able to rely on his players more, and challenge them more, now that they know his style and scheme. With Luka Doncic emerging as a superstar in the league, Kidd and the Mavs have massive expectations coming into the season, and if they can match them, the sky is the limit for this team.

Team: Dallas Mavericks