Joshua Gateley/Getty ImagesOklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has won the NBA's Coach of the Year award.
NBA Communications @NBAPROklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is the recipient of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2023-24 NBA Coach of the Year. <a href="https://t.co/f0UEJ30QAs">pic.twitter.com/f0UEJ30QAs</a>
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch were the two other finalists, though Daigneault received 89 of the 99 available first-place votes.
NBA Communications @NBAPRThe complete voting results for the 2023-24 NBA Coach of the Year. <a href="https://t.co/QatGZpJjYj">pic.twitter.com/QatGZpJjYj</a>
"Our particular team is a privilege to coach," Daigneault said on NBA TNT Tip-Off after being named the winner.
The Thunder finished 40-42 last season, falling in the final round of the play-in tournament. That was an incredible accomplishment in itself after the rebuilding franchise won just 46 games (and lost 108) over the previous two seasons combined.
Hopes were greater in 2023-24, especially with the impending debut of big man Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft who missed all of last year with a Lisfranc injury. Still, the Thunder weren't expected to make a massive leap of the standings just yet.
However, OKC emerged as a championship contender, finishing 57-25 and earning the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played at an MVP level once again, while Holmgren was one of the top rookies in the league all season. Jaylin Williams also developed into a bona fide star as well alongside those two.
Most importantly, this Thunder team exhibited great on- and off-court chemistry all year. It was commonplace to see teammates crowd around one being interviewed postgame for their exploits, and everyone seemed to genuinely get along and like each other.
Although the team has a clear star and then two other great talents for a big three, the entire roster coalesced and fared well when called upon.
Daigneault, who coached the G League's Oklahoma City Blue for five seasons before joining the Thunder, led this great team, and him winning the Coach of the Year was a no-brainer after guiding the 17-win improvement. In a Western Conference that features an impressive array of All-Star talents, OKC flew to the top of the league.
It's a great accomplishment for the 39-year-old Daigneault, who is the youngest head coach to win the honor since 39-year-old Mike Fratello did so for the 1985-86 Cleveland Cavaliers.
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