Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault will take charge of one of the four All-Star teams in about a month.
It was confirmed after the Thunder cruised to victory over the Brooklyn Nets to clinch the best record in the West for games through Feb. 2, the deadline to determine the head coaches.
At 35-7, the Thunder are 6.5 games ahead of the second-placed Houston Rockets. They are also just one loss behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the league.
The last time Oklahoma City had a coach for the All-Star game was when Scott Brooks was coaching a Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led Thunder in 2013-14.
New Format Brings More Coaches
With the All-Star game now becoming a tournament between four teams, Daigneault’s success is also his staff’s success. One of the Thunder assistants will be the head coach of one of the other All-Star teams.
The same applies in the East, where the team with the best record will have its head coach on the sidelines for one of the All-Star teams, and then one of the assistants as head coach for the other team.
As things stand, the head coach representing the East will the Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson and so it will be a Cleveland assistant who will receive the other honor.
How Many Thunder Players Will Daigneault Coach?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks likely to be a starter at the games, while the best Thunder candidate for another All-Star spot would be Jalen Williams. The West is just so stacked with talent that it may prove a challenge.
On the season, Williams is averaging 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 steals. He has emerged as one of the best two-way wings in the league, even if his counting stats don’t scream All-Star.
His pathway to the game will be through the head coaches vote. While they will surely know how vital he is to the Thunder’s success, they will have to decide if it’s worthy of being one of seven reserves.
Other players likely to be in the mix for reserve spots are Alperen Sengun, Jaren Jackson Jr., James Harden, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis, Devin Booker, Victor Wembanyama, and one of Luka Doncic or Steph Curry.
