2023 NBA Coach of the Year Predictions

Most of the time, the NBA Coach of the Year award or COY is awarded to the head coach of the team with the best regular season record. However, there are a few other things that can earn you this award. For example, completely overturning a team within one season, achieving something somewhat new or at least rare to the specific organization, and so on. Below you’ll find the favorites and our predictions for the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year.

Out of the last ten recipients of the award, only three coached their teams to the top seed in the league. So you see the journey matters just as much as the destination here. The winners are selected by sportswriters from the US and Canada. There are first, second, and third place voting just like in other NBA awards. Only the final points matter, not the number of first-place votes.

Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics are Aiming for the Title

Joe Mazzulla has the chance to accomplish great things this season. This is his first head coaching gig in the NBA. The 34-year-old was an assistant coach on the Celtics but was appointed as the interim head coach after Ime Udoka’s suspension. And the most impressive thing about all this is that the Celtics are flying. Boston is currently the top seed in the league with a 21-6 record.

Mazzulla was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October and November this season. If the Celtics continue to play this, we’re sure he’ll receive more awards. Nearly two months into the season and the Celtics are the NBA favorites, they have the MVP, and COY favorites as well. Mazzulla’s odds of winning are +150 on Bovada.

Shocking Turnaround by Willie Green and the Pelicans

The Pelicans have surprised everyone this season. As of December 13, they’re 1st in the West with an 18-8 record. They’re currently on a 7-game winning streak. Zion Williamson is that guy, he can be the difference. But head coach Willie Green is getting plenty of praise as well. Green doesn’t have that much coaching experience but he accomplished great things in a short time.

He was an assistant on the Warriors between 2016 and 2019. During that time he helped Golden State win two championships. Then he went to the Suns until 2021. In those two years, the Suns went to the Finals and the Western Conference Finals and also finished 1st in their division.

Last season was coach Green’s first year at the helm and he managed to guide the Pelicans to the playoffs. His chances for the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year are rapidly increasing. On online sportsbook sites in the US, his odds to win are +350, not that far behind the current favorite, Joe Mazzulla.

Will Hardy and the Jazz can Still Bounce Back – 2023 NBA Coach of the Year Predictions

It seems that this season is all about young coaches making a name for themselves. Just like the previous two candidates on this list, this is also Will Hardy’s first season as a head coach. Furthermore, Hardy was an assistant on the Celtics last season along with Mazzulla. After a change in the ownership of the Utah Jazz, Hardy became the first head coach in a new era.

Before Boston, Hardy spent six years in San Antonio as an assistant to coach Pop. The Spurs made the playoffs in four seasons during his time in Texas. But let’s talk about some performance issues. The Jazz started the season great and held the top seed in the West for some time. They were 10-3 before November 13. Since then their record is 5-11 and have fallen to the 10th seed.

Both Hardy and the new-look Jazz have potential. But if they can’t bounce back the 2023 Coach of the Year award will be gone for Hardy. On the bright side, the 34-year-old is doing well given that this is his first year as a head coach. His odds for the award are +500 on Bovada.

Can Mike Brown Return the Kings to Greatness?

We’re stepping into the big leagues now. Mike Brown is not a new name at all for NBA fans. He began his coaching career in 1997 and was an assistant until 2005. In that timespan, he helped the Spurs win a championship in 2003. Brown then became the head coach for the Cavs between 2005 and 2010.

Cleveland had the best league record in 2009 and 2010 and went to back-to-back Finals. However, they lost both, the first to his former team the Spurs, and the second to Boston’s big three. In 2009 Brown won the NBA Coach of the Year award and was also selected as a head coach of the All-Star game. But he didn’t have much luck between 2010 and 2016 as he was either fired after one season or he spent two years away from coaching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCpGvAh-bdY

Redemption came in 2016 when he was hired as an assistant head coach to the Warriors. After his arrival, Brown helped Golden State go to four Finals and win three. Now, he’s the head coach of the Kings. Online sportsbook news in the US blew up when Sacramento kicked off to the best start since the 2004-05 season. The Kings slowed down a bit recently but they’re still expected to make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Brown’s odds to win COY are +850.

The 2023 NBA Coach of the Year Predictions Don’t Favor Budenholzer but He Probably Doesn’t Care

Budenholzer is the most successful head coach on this list. He already won the NBA Coach of the Year award twice, in 2015 and 2019. What’s even more impressive is that he accomplished this with two teams. He also coached the All-Star games in both of those seasons and won a championship at the end of the 2020-21 season with the Bucks.

As an assistant coach, he won four championships between 1999 and 2007. Budenholzer and the Bucks are an established force in the league. Milwaukee is among the title favorites and Giannis could potentially win his 3rd MVP as well. Out of his nine full seasons as a head coach, Budenholzer took his team to the playoffs eight times, so we’re not worried about the postseason.

At this point, there’s not much left to prove for Coach Bud. The Bucks have built a great team that’s worthy of a dynasty if they can win a couple more championships of course. As for the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year predictions, we think someone new will win it this year. Bud’s odds are +1000 on Bovada.

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