Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been named the NBA coach of the year by the National Basketball Coaches Association, as reported by sources on Monday. Daigneault, at 39 years old, led the youngest team in modern league history with an average age of 24 to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The voting for the award, named after the late Michael Goldberg, is conducted by NBA head coaches who each select a single winner. Daigneault decisively won the NBCA voting among his coaching peers, showcasing his impact on the Thunder's success this season.
Other coaches who received votes for the award include JB Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics, and Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic.
Under Daigneault's leadership, the Thunder have shown consistent improvement in their win total each season, with a notable increase from 24 wins to 40 wins to 57 wins over the past three seasons. The Thunder and the Celtics are the only two teams in the league this season to rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to ESPN Stats and Information.
Oklahoma City led the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage and finished in the top five in nearly 15 offensive categories, highlighting the team's strong performance on the offensive end under Daigneault's guidance.
