Following Monday’s practice, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault revealed who he voted for Coach of the Year.
“I voted for Mike Brown,” Daigneault said.
“That team has not made the playoffs in a long time, and I think because of that, there was an external stigma that existed around that team.
“I really admire the energy he brought to that job when he got the job. Because it wasn’t just a matter of going somewhere and maximizing the personnel. I thought he really brought the swagger and confidence to a group and to an organization that — externally at least — looks like it needed it because they haven’t made the playoffs in a long time and it’s been kinda a punchline and he’s leaned right into that.
“I have a lot of admiration for kinda the cultural flip that he’s been able to do there because they carry themselves with great confidence and that’s who I voted for. I mean no slight on the other great coaches who’s had great years but I have a particular admiration for the way he’s gone about it this year.”
Just to clarify — Daigneault has a vote for the NBCA Coach of the Year. This is the coaches’ association’s version of the award. The primary Coach of the Year award is voted by the media.
Brown will likely win both versions of the award, however, since he has helped the Sacramento Kings make their first playoff appearance since 2006.
In his first season as head coach, the Kings (47-31) will likely earn the third seed in the Western Conference.
This is pretty high praise for Brown from the probable runner-up for Coach of the Year, who has coached the Thunder (38-41) to a probable play-in berth after being widely predicted to finish with one of the worst records in the league for a third consecutive season.
Mark Daigneault disclosed that he voted for Mike Brown for the NBCA’s COTY, saying he’s admired the job he’s done for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006:
“I have a lot of admiration for the cultural flip that he’s been able to do there.” pic.twitter.com/eHd4e8JJmW
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 3, 2023
