The NBA is a competitive and passionate arena, and every team wants to win the trophy. In this contest, in addition to the performance of the players, the coach's tactics and leadership skills are also crucial. Some coaches have earned the trust and respect of the team because of their coaching achievements and prestige, and have also received lucrative contracts. So, who is the highest paid coach in the NBA 2023? Let's take a look together.
Monty Williams (Detroit Pistons)
Annual salary: $13.05 million
Joint term: 6 years
Total contract: $78.5 million
Contract incentive terms: up to $100 million
Monty Williams, the highest-paid coach in NBA history, signed an unprecedented contract with the Detroit Pistons in May 2023. This contract reflects not only the Pistons' confidence and expectations for him, but also his status and influence in the NBA.
Williams was a former NBA player before beginning his career as an assistant coach in 2005. After years of hard work, he became the head coach of the Phoenix Suns in 2019 and led the team to the 2021 NBA Finals, although he eventually lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2023, he was fired because the Suns were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, but was quickly picked up and signed by the Pistons.
Williams is considered an excellent tactician and leader, who is good at mobilizing the fighting spirit and unity of his players, and also good at developing targeted strategies according to the characteristics of his opponents. His goal is to lead the Pistons back to glory and build a competitive team.
Greg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)
Annual salary: $11.5 million
Contract Duration: Unknown
Total amount of the contract: Unknown
Contractual incentive terms: Unknown
Greg Popovich is one of the NBA's most successful coaches and one of the most respected and revered coaches. He has been the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs since 1996 and has been in 27 seasons, the longest serving coach in the NBA. Under his leadership, the Spurs won five NBA championships, made the playoffs 22 times, and recorded the highest regular-season win percentage in NBA history (67.7%).
Popovich is known as a basketball guru whose coaching style is characterized by rigor, pragmatism, innovation and teamwork. He not only developed legendary stars such as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but also attracted many international players to join the Spurs, creating a team with great diversity and coordination. He was also the head coach of the U.S. men's basketball team, leading the team to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Details of Popovich's contract are not made public, but it is estimated that he earns around $11.5 million a year, making him the second-highest paid coach in the NBA. He has a deep affection and loyalty to the Spurs, and also enjoys great prestige and authority. He once said: "I just want to coach here until I die." ”
Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)
Annual salary: $9.5 million
Joint term: 5 years
Total contract: $47.5 million
Contract incentive clause: None
Steve Kerr is a former NBA player who won eight NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. He became the head coach of the Golden State Warriors in 2014 and led the team to a championship in his first season. He went on to lead the Warriors to the Finals five years in a row and won the championship twice. He is the only person in NBA history to have won at least three championships as both a player and a coach.
Cole is known for his lighthearted personality and open and inclusive coaching philosophy. He advocates a fast, fluid, versatile passing, three-point sharp, defensive toughness style of play, and also gives players full freedom and trust to play to their characteristics and strengths. His offensive system learned and improved from Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich, where he played, and adapted to new trends in the NBA.
Kerr signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Warriors in 2019 and is the third-highest-paid coach in the NBA. He has a deep affection and loyalty to the Warriors, and also enjoys great prestige and authority. He once said: "I'm lucky to coach here, it's a very special place. ”
Nick Nass (Philadelphia 76ers)
Annual salary: $9 million
Joint term: 4 years
Total contract: $36 million
Contract incentive clause: None
Nick Nass is a former British basketball league player and coach who became the head coach of the Toronto Raptors in 2018 and led the team to a championship in his first season. He is the first person in NBA history to win the British Basketball League as both a coach and a player.
Nas is considered a nuanced and innovative coach who likes to experiment with different lineups and tactics, as well as to adapt to the characteristics of his players and the weaknesses of his opponents. He has a collaborative coaching style, he listens to players and assistant coaches, and he constantly thinks about how to improve the efficiency of his offense and defense.
Nas succeeded Doug Rivers as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in May 2023 and signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the team, the fourth-highest paid coach in the NBA. His goal is to lead the 76ers to break the playoff curse and compete for the Eastern Conference championship.
Eric Spoelstra (Miami Heat)
Annual salary: $8.5 million
Contract Duration: Unknown
Total amount of the contract: Unknown
Contractual incentive terms: Unknown
Eric Spoelstra, a Filipino-American, joined the Miami Heat's video division in 1995, progressing through the ranks of assistant coach and eventually head coach in 2008. He was the first Asian-American head coach in NBA history and the first Filipino-American head coach.
Spoelstra is considered a hardworking and innovative coach who excels at designing tactics based on the abilities of his players and the characteristics of his opponents, as well as adjusting his lineup and playing style. He has a coaching style that focuses on teamwork and collaboration, listening to players and assistant coaches, and focusing on developing morale and trust.
Spoelstra led the Heat to two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013 and led the Heat to the Finals in 2020. He has the most Finals wins (4) of any active NBA coach and the most wins in Heat history (607). Details of his contract are not made public, but it is estimated that he earns around $8.5 million a year, making him the fifth-highest paid coach in the NBA. He has a deep affection and loyalty to the Heat, as well as great prestige and authority. He once said: "I'm honoured to coach here, it's a very special organisation. ”
Tom Thibodeau (New York Knicks)
Annual salary: $8 million
Joint term: 5 years
Total contract amount: $40 million
Contract incentive clause: None
Tom Thibodeau is a former assistant coach at Harvard University who entered the NBA in 1989 and has served as assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Boston Celtics. He became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 2010 and in his first season led the team to a first-place regular season record and won the NBA Coach of the Year award. He moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014 as head coach and president, but was fired in 2019.
Thibodeau is known as a demanding and defensively focused coach who excels at building a team that is defensively strong, hard-working, united, and at discovering and improving the potential of his players. He has a coaching style that focuses on discipline and competition, he will demand the best effort and sacrifice from his players, and he will also give him full trust and support.
Thibodeau signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the New York Knicks in 2020 and is the sixth-highest-paid coach in the NBA. He has a special affection and loyalty to the Knicks, as well as great prestige and authority. He once said: "I'm honoured to be back here to coach, it's a very special place. ”
Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
Annual salary: $8 million
Joint term: 4 years
Total contract: $32 million
Contract incentive clause: None
Jason Kidd is a former NBA player who has won two NBA championships with the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors. He became the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 and led the team to the Eastern Conference semifinals in his first season. He moved to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014 as head coach, but was fired in 2018. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 as an assistant coach and won a championship in 2020.
Kidd is considered a controversial and challenging coach who likes to experiment with different lineups and tactics, as well as harnessing the talent and creativity of his players. He has a coaching style that focuses on psychological warfare and competition, he will demand the best effort and sacrifice from the players, and will also give the players full trust and support.
Kidd signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021 and is the seventh-highest-paid coach in the NBA. He has a special affection and loyalty to the Mavericks, as well as great prestige and authority. He once said: "I'm honoured to be back here to coach, it's a very special place. ”
Taryn Lew (Los Angeles Clippers)
Annual salary: $7.5 million
Joint term: 5 years
Total contract: $37.5 million
Contract incentive clause: None
Tyronn Lue is a former NBA player who has won three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. He began his career as an assistant coach in 2011, playing for the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers. He replaced fired David Blatter as the head coach of the Cavaliers in 2016 and led the team to a championship win against the Golden State Warriors in his first season. He was the first African-American in NBA history to win a championship as both a player and a coach.
Lu is considered a flexible and well-communicated coach who excels at devising tactics based on the abilities of his players and the characteristics of his opponents, as well as adjusting his lineup and playing style. He has a coaching style that focuses on trust and cooperation, he listens to his players and assistant coaches, and he focuses on building confidence and unity among players.
Lue succeeded Doug Rivers as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2020 and signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the team, the eighth highest paid coach in the NBA. His goal is to lead the Clippers to break the playoff curse and compete for the Western Conference championship.
Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers)
Annual salary: $7.25 million
Joint term: 4 years
Total contract: $29 million
Contract incentive clause: None
Rick Carlisle is a former NBA player who won the 1986 NBA championship with the Boston Celtics. He became the head coach of the Detroit Pistons in 2001 and led the team to a championship in 2004. He moved to the Dallas Mavericks as head coach in 2008 and led the team to a championship in 2011 when the Miami Heat turned around. He is the 11th person in NBA history to win a championship as both a player and a coach.
Carlisle is considered a nuanced and innovative coach who excels at designing tactics based on the abilities of his players and the characteristics of his opponents, as well as adjusting his lineup and style of play. He has a coaching style that is pragmatic and collaborative, he listens to his players and assistant coaches, and he focuses on building confidence and unity among his players.
Carlisle signed a four-year, $29 million contract with the Indiana Pacers after parting ways with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021 and is the ninth-highest-paid coach in the NBA. He has a special affection and loyalty to the Pacers, as well as great prestige and authority. He once said: "I'm honoured to be back here to coach, it's a very special place. ”
Do you think their abilities can match their salaries, welcome to leave a message!