NBA success may be attained with superstars on the court, but having a world-class coach is just as important. There are only a few of these coaches walking the baselines in the league, but they are compensated handsomely for their work.
Following are the NBA coaches who earn the most money:
Staff salaries aren’t as frequently publicized or made publicly as NBA player salary. Many of the top-paid American sports coaches on a list work for the NBA.
These are the top coaches in terms of pay that we know of. The list is incomplete.
In Millions
1
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs
13
2
Steve Kerr
Golden State Warriors
9.5
3
Doc Rivers
Philadelphia 76ers
8.5
4
Erik Spoelstra
Miami Heat
8.5
5
Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks
8.5
6
Tom Thibodeau
New York Knicks
8
7
Mike Budenholzer
Milwaukee Bucks
8
8
Nick Nurse
Toronto Raptors
8
9
Rick Carlisle
Indiana Pacers
7.25
10
Dwane Casey
Detroit Pistons
7
11
Tyronn Lue
LA Clippers
7
12
Wes Unseld Jr.
Washington Wizards
7
13
Billy Donovan
Chicago Bulls
6
14
Steve Clifford
Charlotte Hornets
4
15
Chris Finch
Minnesota Timberwolves
3.5
16
Willie Green
New Orleans Pelicans
3.3
17
Nate McMillan
Atlanta Hawks
3
18
J.B. Bickerstaff
Cleveland Cavaliers
3
19
Monty Williams
Phoenix Suns
2.7
20
Taylor Jenkins
Memphis Grizzlies
2.5
21
Stephen Silas
Houston Rockets
2
22
Chauncey Billups
Portland Trail Blazers
2
23
Michael Malone
Denver Nuggets
NA
24
Mark Daigneault
Oklahoma City Thunder
NA
25
Jamahl Mosley
Orlando Magic
NA
26
Joe Mazzulla
Boston Celtics
NA
27
Jacque Vaughn
Brooklyn Nets
NA
28
Darvin Ham
Los Angeles Lakers
NA
29
Mike Brown
Sacramento Kings
NA
30
Will Hardy
Utah Jazz
NA
The Top Coaches
Coach Pop is at the top of the list, and rightfully so.He is one of the best coaches of all time, having led the Spurs to 22 straight playoff appearances from 1998 to 2019. He has also won three Coach of the Year honors and five NBA championships. Following a successful playing career, Steve Kerr has also been solidifying his reputation as a coach in the NBA. He has guided the Warriors to four NBA championships since taking over as head coach in 2014, and in 2016 he was voted Coach of the Year. Before taking the 76ers’ job in 2020, Rivers served as the team’s head coach for the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Orlando Magic. He was voted Coach of the Year with Orlando in 2000 and earned a championship with Boston in 2008.
In 1995, Spoelstra began his career with Miami as a video coordinator, putting together footage to aid the coaching staff in better scouting prospective opponents. He became the Heat’s head coach in 2008, and so far, that decision has resulted in championships in 2012 and 2013. Budenholzer, a follower of Popovich, had his first head coaching position with the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018, when the Bucks hired him.He was twice voted Coach of the Year and assisted the squad in winning its second NBA championship in 2021. (2015, 2019). In 1989, Nurse first served as an assistant coach with Northern Iowa before departing for a season to play for the Derby Rams in England. He joined Derby the next year as a player-coach, then switched between a number of coaching positions until making his NBA debut in 2007 via the D League.After serving as an assistant for the Raptors for six years, he was named head coach in 2019 and led the team to its first championship in his first season.
