Although they may not be as flashy as their player counterparts, certain NBA coaches set themselves apart from the rest of the league each year.
Instead, they do the unseen but perhaps most important work. Leading practices, designing plays, managing injuries and personalities are just some of the head coaching responsibilities. The dominance fans witness from teams is not only a testament to players’ skills but also to coaches.
As the NBA reignites out of the All-Star break, some of the top coaches have already separated themselves from the rest of the pack. And as teams play their final stretches of the regular season, Coach of the Year honors are up for grabs among several elite candidates.
Frontrunner #1: J.B. Bickerstaff
The Detroit Pistons are enjoying an excellent season. They have a 40-13 record, good for first in the Eastern Conference. Motor City sits just half a game behind Oklahoma City for the NBA’s best record. Additionally, the Pistons are 17-6 against teams with a .500 record or better — a league-best.
None of this would be possible without head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Bickerstaff has quickly turned the Detroit franchise around. When he accepted the Pistons head coaching job in July 2024, he took over a team that finished the prior season 14-68.
In his first season, he led Detroit to a 44-38 record and a playoff appearance — its first in over five years. This season, there is no doubt Bickerstaff’s team will once again heavily improve on its previous record. A 60-win season is well within reach.
With Bickerstaff now steering the ship of a team top 10 in offensive scoring and top three in defensive scoring, he has officially turned the Pistons into scary contenders for the first time in decades. Ultimately, it’s a tall task for anyone to make an argument against him winning his first Coach of the Year.
Frontrunner #2: Joe Mazzulla
Even if this season turned out to be a bust, as predicted by many, Joe Mazzulla’s resume would still speak for itself. At just 37 years old and four seasons into his first NBA head coaching gig, he is already an NBA champ. He also boasts the most wins out of any coach since 2022.
Mazzulla has added to his list of accomplishments already this season. Despite superstar Jayson Tatum‘s absence due to his torn Achilles, Boston sits at second in the East. Their 35-19 record is fourth-best in the NBA, and their defense is ranked second-best in scoring.
Mazzulla has been a mastermind this season in managing and crafting his lineups. Players such as rookie Hugo González and third-year wing Jordan Walsh have shined this year, and part of the credit goes to the man with the clipboard. Mazzulla’s knowledge of when certain matchups benefit his players has been second to none.
Boston also ranks in the top 10 in several other key statistics, such as rebounding (eighth), turnovers (first), and point differential (third).
Frontrunner #3: Jordan Ott
Rookie head coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns is making the most of his opportunity. Ott served as a college assistant for some time before moving to the NBA as an assistant for the last decade. Finally, he was given a chance to show his coaching chops, and he has not disappointed.
Ott has guided Phoenix to a 32-23 record, seventh in the West. It’s an impressive surprise for the Suns, who almost tied their win total from last season (36) prior to the All-Star break.
The Suns’ excellent defense — fifth-best in scoring — is a key reason for why the NBA named Ott January’s Western Conference Coach of the Month.
https://twitter.com/Suns/status/2018784206533578967?s=20
With Phoenix’s preseason predictions landing them among the worst in the West, Ott has proven to be a talented, young mind with a long future.
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