Tag: nbca coach of the year

Mark Daigneault named a finalist for 2023-24 Coach of the Year award

Mark Daigneault nominated for 2023-24 Coach of the Year award.

The NBA announced its award finalists for the 2023-24 season on Sunday. The Oklahoma City Thunder had several representatives among the groups.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was named a finalist for the Coach of the Year award. This shouldn’t be surprising: The 39-year-old won the NBCA’s version of the award voted among his peers.

In his fourth season as the head coach, Daigneault led OKC as it became the youngest top seed in league history. The Thunder finished 57-25, a 17-win jump from last season’s 40-42 record.

Other finalists are Chris Finch and Jamahl Mosley. The 2023-24 Coach of the Year award will be announced during the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren were named finalists for MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jamahl Mosley praises Mark Daigneault for NBCA Coach of the Year award

Jamahl Mosley praises Mark Daigneault for NBCA Coach of the Year award.

After winning the NBCA’s Coach of the Year, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was prideful of the award. It was a sign of respect from his peers: The 30 NBA head coaches voted on the award.

Daigneault also will likely receive the wider known Coach of the Year award bestowed by the NBA. The 39-year-old helped the young Thunder become one of the best teams in the league. OKC finished as the youngest first seed in league history this season.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley experienced similar success with his young squad. The Magic finished 47-35 and with the fifth seed.

Mosley, who signed an extension this season, will likely finish as a runner-up for the award. He offered Daigneault praise on the NBCA award.

“I think he’s done a phenomenal, phenomenal job down there with those guys,” Mosley said. “The way in which they play, the style that they play won. How they execute, how they’re detailed, how they’re prepared for every single game. He’s done such a fantastic job for them.”

Both the Thunder and Magic hope to make noise in the playoffs. They’ve been two of the best young squads in the league and have broken out this season.

Editor’s note: RookieWire’s Cody Taylor contributed to this article.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mark Daigneault addresses winning NBCA’s 2023-24 Coach of the Year award

Mark Daigneault addresses winning NBCA’s 2023-24 Coach of the Year award.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was announced as the NBCA’s winner for 2023-24 Coach of the Year.

In his fourth season as the head coach, Daigneault led OKC to the youngest top seed in league history. The Thunder finished with a 57-25 record, a 17-win jump from last season’s 40-42 record.

The traditional Coach of the Year honor has not been announced, but Daigneault is likely the favorite to win that award. Following the Thunder’s practice on Wednesday, the 39-year-old talked about the achievement.

“I’m humbled. Great respect and admiration for other coaches. Any time you’re recognized by your peers, there’s something meaningful about that,” Daigneault said. “… (It) starts with the players but then all of the people in the organization. All the invisible work that gets done the team benefits from. In this case, I get singled out for it.

“Certainly humbled and grateful for the recognition but at the same time wanting to make sure I spread that back out.”

Daigneault has always been passive about receiving credit for the job he’s done since being promoted to Thunder head coach in 2020. As OKC ascends to one of the best squads in the league, it was only fair to assume he’d also get recognized for the job he’s done to turn around the franchise.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: Mark Daigneault named NBCA’s 2023-24 Coach of the Year

Report: Mark Daigneault named NBCA’s 2023-24 Coach of the Year.

After the Oklahoma City Thunder finished with a 57-25 record and first place in the Western Conference standings, head coach Mark Daigneault has won the NBCA’s Coach of the Year award, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

In his fourth season as the head coach, Daigneault led OKC to the youngest first seed in league history. An impressive jump from last season where they fell a win shy of making the playoffs.

It’s important to note that this is the Coaches Association’s award. The traditional Coach of the Year has not been announced yet, but odds are Daigneault will also be the winner.

Each NBA head coach votes for a single winner for the NBCA’s award named for the late Michael Goldberg.

The Thunder will enter the playoffs with the young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren headlining the young roster. It’ll be the first of presumably many playoff runs with this trio.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault receives vote(s) for NBCA’s Coach of the Year

Mark Daigneault was one of five head coaches to receive a vote.

The NBCA’s Coach of the Year winner was announced on Thursday: Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown received the award.

This is the coaches association’s version of the award. The NBA’s Coach of the Year award will be voted by the media — although Brown will also likely win that, too.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was one of five coaches to receive vote(s) by the coaches association. The five are Brown, Daigneault, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Earlier this month, Daigneualt revealed he voted for Brown, noting his ability to quickly change the culture and public perception of the Kings in his first season. The Kings are the third seed and made the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Meanwhile, the Thunder are a win away from clinching a playoff berth, which would be quite the accomplishment for a team many thought would finish with top lottery odds.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]