NBA: Top 5 Coach of the Year Candidates Entering 2015-16

2 of 7

Apr 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders gestures from the sidelines in the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mentions:

Flip Saunders – Minnesota Timberwolves

We begin the honorable mentions for Coach of the Year this season, by paying homage to the late Flip Saunders who passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Saunders sat at the helm of NBA sidelines for 17 seasons, and garnered 654 wins. He coached the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and most recently the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, Saunders was slated to lead a young and talented group in Minnesota, and undoubtably would’ve done some miraculous things for those players and their development. May he rest in peace, and his coaching legacy live on.

Steve Kerr – Golden State Warriors

The Warriors currently sit at the mountain top of the NBA, after winning the Finals back in June. The problem with being at that mountain top however, is that there are suddenly 29 other teams looking up at you waiting for a chance to knock you off. Steve Kerr did a phenomenal job a season ago with a phenomenal roster. It was the team’s talent and depth that inevitably kept him from claiming this honor a season ago: it’s hard to be deemed the league’s best coach when you have the MVP helping you along the way. This season, time away from his Dubs and an improved crop of Western Conference elite will play a major role in keeping Kerr from the award this season.

Mike Budenholzer – Atlanta Hawks

More from Sir Charles In Charge

Mike Budenholzer came away with Coach of the Year honors for the 2014-2015 season. This season though, his Hawks will have to cope with the loss of one of their premier players, DeMarre Carroll. In addition, a number of teams in the East improved and in all likelihood the Hawks will be unable to maintain their top seeding in the conference. Budenholzer remains one of the league’s elite minds, and it is without question that he’ll be able to make something of this Hawks roster yet again, however the decrease in wins for the team will be his undoing in the race for COY.

Fred Hoiberg – Chicago Bulls

It’s not often that a coach beloved by both players and fans is given the boot, especially when the team has established a winning culture under his direction. However, the Bulls’ front office was at odds with Tom Thibodeau, and as a result he was fired during the offseason. Former Iowa State head coach, Fred Hoiberg has been brought in to replace Thibs, and many are unsure what to make of the signing. This will be his first go around at the helm of an NBA team, and quite frankly he’s being given this opportunity with some incredible pieces at his disposal.

The Bulls have essentially the same roster they did a season ago, only this time they appear to be healthy (hopefully). This bodes well for a first year coach as it’ll give him the confidence to implement his system with these experienced and talented players. Should the Bulls climb to one of the top 2 or 3 slots in the East, Hoiberg will almost certainly be in the discussion for COY.

Next: No. 5

Home/NBA News