Sometimes a team can be defined by its stars leading the way. But sometimes their success can hinge on the head coach tasked with optimizing those stars.
Given that there's really only a handful of elite coaches out there, those tacticians can earn a sizeable salary for their duties.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reportedly agreed to a contract extension that includes the most committed coaching money in league history, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday, citing sources.
But, along with Kerr, which NBA coaches are the highest paid in the league? Let's look at the top few in the 2023-24 season:
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Who are the highest-paid coaches in the NBA?
Unlike salaries of NBA players, staff salaries aren’t as widely reported or available. In 2021, Sportico published a list of the highest-paid coaches in U.S. sports, and seven of them were in the NBA. However, four of those were let go in the 2022-23 campaign: Steve Nash (Nets), Doc Rivers (76ers), Mike Budenholzer (Bucks) and Nick Nurse (Raptors).
NBA
Following the latest turnover and the 2023-24 season reaching the new year, let’s take a look at some of the highest-paid coaches:
1. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors: $35 million
Kerr has been cementing his legacy as a coach in the NBA following his successful playing career. Since joining the Warriors as head coach in 2014, he’s helped lead the team to four NBA titles and was named Coach of the Year in 2016.
Kerr reportedly signed a two-year extension worth $ 35 million, which is the most committed coaching money in league history. That agreement would put him at $17.5 million per season.
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs: $16 million
One of the most successful coaches of all time, having won five NBA titles, three Coach of the Year awards and helping the Spurs to 22 consecutive playoff berths from 1998 to 2019, Popovich tops this list. Coach Pop used to earn $11.5 million a year before a recent five-year, $80 million extension he signed in July bumped it to a reported $16 million. He also serves as the team's president of basketball operations.
3. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat: $15 million
Spoelstra started off as a video coordinator with Miami in 1995, a role which sees a person putting together clips to provide the coaching staff to better scout upcoming opponents. In 2008, the Heat made him their head coach, which so far has led to titles in 2012 and 2013. He was also a key figure in Miami’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals despite being an eight-seed.
In the 2023-24 season, Spoelstra signed an eight-year extension worth $120-plus million, which is the most committed coaching money in league history. At base level, that puts him at $15 million per season, not counting potential add-ons.
4. Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons: $13.05 million
Williams, who signed a lucrative deal with Detroit this offseason after Phoenix let him go, inked a contract worth a reported $78.5 million over six years. That would mean Williams’ average salary is $13.05 million, but it doesn’t take into account how incentives reportedly could boost the contract to $100 million over eight years. Williams has the luxury of time to develop a young Pistons side while getting paid handsomely for his services.
T-5. Nick Nurse: Philadelphia 76ers, $8 million
After winning a championship with the Raptors, the team parted ways with Nurse. The 76ers grabbed Nurse off the market and made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. Nurse will look to lead the Sixers to their first NBA championship since 1983.
T-5. Jason Kidd: Dallas Mavericks, $8 million
Kidd, a former NBA player, was hired as the head coach of the Mavericks in 2021 in a four year deal and is now one of the highest paid coaches in the league. In his first year with Dallas, he led the team to 52 reglar season wins and the Western Conference finals before falling to the Warriors. Since the team hasn’t found the same post season success.
Who is the highest-paid NBA coach ever?
The highest-paid NBA coach ever is Steve Kerr. Kerr’s new deal makes him the highest paid coach in league history at $17.5 million a year.
