Who are the coaches who touch the biggest kichtas in the NBA? Spoiler, some don’t get white hair in the wind

Being a head-coach in the NBA means spending half of your time juggling egos, giving up grace periods, expecting to jump at the slightest hitch, not to mention that the best players on your team can help you. put in delicacy with your bosses in an ambiguous statement in press conference. Unless you have a reputation and undoubted respect in the league – rings and longevity can obviously support the cause of coaches – gray hair and baldness from stress is almost inevitable. However the job is rather well paid, so here is the ranking of the best paid coaches in the league. Logical eh.

1. Gregg Popovich, Spurs de San Antonio (11,5 millions de dollars)

Obviously priority to the old ones, and the reasons why Pop is the leader of the list begin with the number of rings on his knuckles but also the longevity of his NBA career and his ratio in terms of victories, while the course of Gregg Popovich also includes an Olympic gold medal this summer as head coach of the US team in Tokyo. Quite clearly, no one has more respect among professional coaches than Coach Pop.

2. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors (9,5 millions de dollars)

Steve Kerr signed an overtime with the Warriors in 2018 after the team’s third title in four years. Chance does things well because he is the assistant to the first on our national team list, a mentoring relationship existing between these two there and just like Pop, Steve Kerr was at the head of a dynasty that dominated the NBA with an iron fist. Fact: His 73.3 playoff winning percentage is the highest in sports history.

3. Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers (8,5 millions de dollars)

The softness of Californian palm trees is arguably not the only thing Doc Rivers has been missing since leaving Los Angeles. Indeed, he earns less in Philly than the $ 10million annual salary he pocketed as president and coach of the Clippers, but his results are better as he finished first in the East and reached the semi-finals of conference in its first season. He closes the podium, and we can safely say that the ring is a condition sine qua non to aspire to the Top 3 of our ranking.

4. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat (8,5 millions de dollars)

Also in the register of ringed coaches, Erik Spoelstra, who succeeded the legendary Pat Riley in 2008, which is no small feat but for whom the story has turned in his favor. Ricky has become one of the most respected coaches in the NBA and is far from currently unemployed with an NBA Finals just over a year ago. He too was entitled to his Dinasty and his years of domination with the Heat.

5. Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks (8 millions de dollars)

Until his formidable run in the Playoffs last year, Coach Bud was the only Top 5 member who couldn’t brag about having a Larry O’Brien Trophy in his closet. It is now done for the defending champion, and what he has achieved in just six years of head-coaching is quite admirable since he is already double coach of the year and allowed the Bucks to win their first. title of the franchise for fifty years. Note here that he can be delighted to have learned at a good school with… the eternal Pop.

6.  Nick Nurse, Raptors de Toronto (8 millions de dollars)

After leading Toronto to the first title in its history, the Raptors were keen to pay Nick Nurse handsomely. To win in the north where the winters are cold and harsh, you need solid knowledge, a firm hand but not necessarily a sense of sharing. Indeed, the former agent of Nick Nurse has filed a complaint against the coach of the Raptors, asking for a commission for the extension of his contract which puts him in sixth place. An iron fist in a velvet glove, but not necessarily the heart on the hand.

7. Steve Nash, Brooklyn Nets (8 millions de dollars)

Finally our first coach with an empty trophy room, as a coach of course. This did not prevent the Nets from paying the price, hoping that he will quickly be on the bench the genius he was on the floor. Nash’s estimated starting salary is unprecedented for an inexperienced trainer, yet he has plenty to remedy his empty cabinet problem, as it is on his aura and considerable influence that Brooklyn relies on today to manage. … Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, albeit with the help of a respected and very experienced Mike D’Antoni. At this price it could almost have been nice to see the double MVP hit the floor on the evenings when the Nets put on the taro, just to remember the good old days.

8. Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers  (7 millions de dollars)

The Clippers have the richest owner in the NBA, former Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer, so money isn’t much of an issue. But winning is, and Doc Rivers was canned because he wasn’t doing enough for his salary of 10 potatoes, and because his style seemed to be unsuitable for players like Paul George. Tyronn Lue, for his part, does not have as strong a philosophy as the legendary “UBUNTU”, but a former player does have the opportunity to identify with his own and, most importantly, Playoffs P has still not complained about him.

The best coaches are most often graduates of reputable universities, but sometimes a former athlete turns out to be stronger and more likely to step into another athlete’s shoes. In any case, understanding the strategy behind the sport requires training whether from the court or by being an assistant. What is certain, however, is that a big salary can only be the result of excellent performance.

Text source: Kurt Badenhausen for sportico / Undisputed