- Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder has emerged as the odds-on favorite to win 2023-24 NBA Coach of the Year.
- Under Daigneault’s watch, the Thunder have improved in each subsequent year since he accepted the job in 2020-21.
- The Thunder are tied for the best record in the Western Conference and own the fifth-best odds to win the NBA Finals.
Most fans are focused on Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and other Thunder stars, but it looks like head coach Mark Daigneault will get a well-deserved recognition too. The fourth-year head coach has the Thunder on track for their first playoff series since 2016 and the bookies expect him to win the NBA Coach of the Year awards in the process.
According to BetOnline, Daigneault (+185) is the odds-on favorite to win the 2023-24 NBA Coach of the Year award. Currently, the 39-year-old head coach has an implied probability of 35.1 percent to win the top coaching honors. Daigneault’s odds have surged since the start of the campaign.
Although Daigneault opened as the NBA Coach of the Year betting favorite, he had +700 odds to win the award. In the pre-season, Daigneault had an implied chance of 12.5 percent to win. At the time, there wasn’t a clear favorite, with the Bucks’ Adrian Griffin and Erik Spoelstra of the Heat at +800 odds.
NBA Coach Of The Year Odds Indicate Two Coach Race
The Thunder have advanced to 40-17 on the season amid a five-game winning streak. The recent stretch has helped give Daigneault some separation in the NBA Coach of the Year race. Additionally, the Thunder have won eight of their previous ten matchups entering Wednesday.
With the Houston Rockets up next at home, the Thunder have a solid chance of extending their winning streak to six games. As they edge closer to taking over the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Daigneault is establishing himself as the top-picked coach at online betting sites.
Timberwolves’ head coach Chris Finch has come out of the NBA All-Star break as another realistic selection for NBA Coach of the Year honors. Currently, at BetOnline, Finch (+240) has the second-shortest odds to win the award.
Rebuild Complete In OKC
Finch has guided the Timberwolves into a tie with the Thunder in the Western Conference. Despite Finch being a well-deserving Head Coach of the Year, Daigneault’s incredible work has transformed the Thunder in short order.
In 2020-21, the former head coach of the Thunder G League affiliate was promoted to the NBA. After finishing 22-50 and fifth in the Northwest, Daigneault’s Thunder won two more games in 2021-22, and then 16 more for a record of 40-42 last season. The improved record came with a multi-year extension for Daigneault.
This season, the complete rebuilding process came full circle for Daigneault. In addition to Daigneault’s success, guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having an MVP season. Gilgeous-Alexander (+210) trails only Nikola Jokić (-155) for the leading 2023-24 NBA MVP odds.
Gilgeous-Alexander has developed into Daigneault’s superstar go-to option. The 6-foot-6 native of Toronto, Ontario, has averaged 31.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. He is shooting 54.8 percent from the field overall and 38 percent from three-point range.
OKC Thunder NBA Champs?
According to the latest 2023-24 NBA Finals odds, the Thunder are in the mix as a top contender. Currently, the Thunder are tied with the Timberwolves and Suns for the fifth-best NBA title odds.
That said, the Bucks (+750), Clippers (+500), Nuggets (+475), and Celtics (+250) have stronger odds to win than the Thunder (+1600). The main concern for bettors is the lack of experience for Daigneault’s group.
He has never coached one single playoff game and although extremely talented, Gilgeous-Alexander has no playoff experience with the Thunder, either.
The same can be said about many players on the roster. Rookie Chet Holmgren, who has the second-best NBA Rookie of the Year odds, is a terrific player but hasn’t played a minute of playoff basketball. Likewise for starters Luguentz Dort, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Williams. The only weak spot on this roster is their lack of experience in big games.
With that in mind, bettors are not ready to back Daigneault as an NBA champion. Nevertheless, after this regular season, he has a strong chance of receiving the ultimate honor for an NBA head coach. Next year, with more experience under their belt, expectations will soar for Daigneault and his ascending club.
