Mark Daigneault of Oklahoma City Thunder named as NBA Coach of the Year

Mark Daigneault head coach of Oklahoma City Thunder, has been named NBA Coach of the Year for 2023-24, the league announced on Sunday. 

The other contenders were the Minnesota Timberwolves Chris Finch and the Orlando Magic's Jamahl Mosley. Daigneault won by a landslide, receiving 89 of 99 first-place votes from the media. Mosley finished in second place, with four first-place votes. Finch received one first-place vote and had the third-highest point total in the vote count.

He was also named Coach of the Year by his NBA coaching colleagues, in addition to receiving the media-voted honour presented on Sunday. 

The 39-year-old Daigneault, who was a nominee for the award last year, is in his fourth season with the Thunder and has led them to a 57-25 record and the top spot in the Western Conference playoffs. The Thunder has not made the postseason since 2019-20.

 The Thunder improved by 17 games from the previous season to achieve their first 55-plus win season since 2015-16, spearheaded by MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Rookie of the Year nominee Chet Holmgren. 

With the rise in victories, the Thunder became only one of four teams in NBA history to raise their win total by 16 or more games in consecutive seasons. 

Under Mark Daigneault tenure Oklahoma City Thunder is one of the great team

Over four seasons, Daigneault has helped Oklahoma City Thunder become one of the league's greatest offences. During the 2023-24 regular season, they led the NBA in 3-point percentage (38.9%) and were fifth in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, and free throw percentage. They were also in the top five for offensive rating (118.3), points per game (120.1), and true shooting percentage (60.8). 

According to AP news Mark Daigneault stated, “Ultimately, we’re in it together.” “We’re all working together to try to get to the best thing and we don’t care where that idea comes from. If it comes from a player, comes from a video assistant, it doesn’t matter. We’re just trying to get to the best thing and move in the same direction.”