NBA Coach of the Year (COY) rankings 2024-25: Top 5 candidates after Week 1 ft. JJ Redick
The 2024-25 NBA season is officially a week old! Some teams have risen to the occasion, while others have fallen short. One of the season's key awards is Coach of the Year, claimed last season by the OKC Thunder’s Mark Daigneault, who steered his team to the top of the competitive Western Conference.
This year, many teams, including the Thunder, have had makeovers — big or small. For some, the biggest change is in the coaching staff. These rosters thrive only with sharp leadership, and that’s where the Coach of the Year debate begins.
Here are the top five contenders for Coach of the Year, one week into the NBA season.
Top 5 NBA Coach of the Year candidates after Week 1
#5. Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic
Before their 13-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, Jamahl Mosley’s Orlando Magic opened the season strong, posting double-digit wins over the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets.
Though the Magic remain a relatively young team, and despite making the playoffs last year, many expect them to achieve even greater success this season.
Mosley has the pieces in place to reach those expectations. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero have been impressive, each averaging over 21 points per game. Adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the starting lineup has also been a game-changer.
Currently, the Magic rank fifth in net rating (7.4) and boast a 107.0 defensive rating, which also places them fifth in the league.
#4. Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Now we enter the tier of coaches with unbeaten records in Week 1, beginning with Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics opened with a statement win, beating the New York Knicks by 23 points, followed by wins against the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons.
Though they dominated the Knicks, the Celtics needed a strong second half to outlast the Wizards and narrowly edged the Pistons, both teams likely to miss the playoffs this season.
Still, Mazzulla’s Celtics showed elite offense, posting a league-leading 129.0 offensive rating and a net rating of 16.0, fourth-best in the NBA.
#3. Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
When the Cavaliers hired Kenny Atkinson, his task was to upgrade their offense — and he delivered. After ranking 16th last season with a 114.7 offensive rating, Cleveland now trails only Boston with a 125.5 offensive rating.
In Coach of the Year discussions, coaches of teams that outperform expectations or who are new to their role and achieve success are typically favored. This is Atkinson’s edge over Mazzulla, even if Cleveland’s wins came against non-playoff contenders like Toronto, Detroit and Washington.
With upcoming games against the Knicks, Lakers, Magic and Bucks, the Cavaliers will be further tested next week.
#2. Mark Daigneault, OKC Thunder
Has a coach ever won back-to-back Coach of the Year awards in the NBA? No, but Mark Daigneault is making a compelling case. The Thunder dominated their first three games with a series of decisive wins: a 15-point rout of the Nuggets, holding them to just 87 points, a 19-point win over the Chicago Bulls and a 24-point dismantling of the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite a thin frontcourt due to injuries to new center Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and spot big Kenrich Williams, the Thunder have excelled defensively. They lead the NBA in blocks with 10.0 per game, thanks largely to Chet Holmgren’s impressive sophomore leap, rank second in steals with 12.3 per game and hold the top defensive rating at 90.8.
Though their 3-point shooting remains a weak spot at just 27.6%, placing them third-worst in the league, their defense has more than compensated. They currently have the third-best net rating (18.4) and appear ready for another leap forward after last season’s success.
#1. JJ Redick, LA Lakers
Fact: LA Lakers fans are hard to please. Fact: JJ Redick has impressed as a first-year coach. The former player-turned-broadcaster-turned-coach has revitalized the Lakers’ offense, guiding them to their first 3-0 start in over a decade.
With a 120.1 offensive rating, fourth in the NBA (up from last season’s 115.4 at 15th), Redick’s impact is clear. His offensive system has elevated Anthony Davis’s play, and his coaching style has resonated with players, as Davis praised him after their 22-point comeback against the Suns.
The Lakers' opening schedule wasn’t easy, including matchups with the Timberwolves, Suns, and Kings. Although only their win over the Timberwolves was dominant, they showed resilience against the Suns and Kings.
Redick’s early impact on the Lakers is the most pronounced, and with his team thriving under the spotlight, he’s proven that his basketball mind is one of the best in the NBA.