A former student manager for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team has the shortest odds to win pro basketball’s highest coaching honor.
Mark Daigneault, in his third season as coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, is the betting favorite to win NBA Coach of the Year.
Daigneault’s odds went to +115 from +140 since late December, as his Thunder are second in the Western Conference.
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The Thunder’s preseason odds to win the NBA title were +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total). Those odds now sit at +2800.
Second on the oddsboard is Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch at +260.
Finch’s Timberwolves are atop the Western Conference standings, 1.5 games ahead of the Thunder and the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
Here’s a look at the odds for coach of the year and insight from FOX Sports NBA writer Ric Bucher.
NBA COACH OF THE YEAR ODDS: *
Mark Daigneault, Thunder: +115 (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Chris Finch, Timberwolves: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total)
Rick Carlisle, Pacers: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
Joe Mazzulla, Celtics: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Jamahl Mosley, Magic: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Tyronn Lue, Clippers: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Nick Nurse, 76ers: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
* odds as of 1/17/2024
Daigneault, 38, started his coaching career as an assistant at Holy Cross from 2007-10 before taking an assistant coaching job with the Florida Gators (2010-14).
He coached the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G League affiliate, from 2014-19 before joining the Thunder as an assistant coach in 2019-20.
FOX Sports NBA analyst Ric Bucher said he isn’t surprised by Daigneault’s success with the Thunder.
“I said the Thunder would be a lock to make the playoffs, and I’d certainly double down on that,” Bucher said recently.
Making big moves were Boston’s Joe Mazzulla (+900 from +2200) and Indiana’s Rick Carlisle (+1400 from +3400).
The 31-9 Celtics own the league’s best record. The Pacers beat Boston 133-131 on Jan. 8.
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