NBA Coach of the Year (COY) rankings 2024-25: Ime Udoka leads pack as season passes midway point

The NBA season has reached its midpoint, and this week’s Coach of the Year rankings saw significant changes as top teams continue to battle, shaking up the standings.

Here are our top five NBA Coach of the Year candidates after Week 13.

Top five NBA Coach of the Year candidates after Week 13

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#5. Michael Malone (Last week’s ranking: #4)

Michael Malone’s Denver Nuggets are steadily climbing the standings, solidifying themselves as a team capable of securing homecourt advantage in the Western Conference.

Russell Westbrook has found new life, helping offset injuries to Aaron Gordon, who’s thriving in limited bench minutes, and Jamal Murray, who’s slowly returning to top form.

Malone deserves credit for turning the Nuggets’ season around after a slow start, particularly in the always-competitive Western Conference.

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#4. Taylor Jenkins (Last week’s ranking: Unranked)

How about Taylor Jenkins and the Memphis Grizzlies? They’ve maintained their signature resilience, even while missing key stars. As more rotation players return from injuries, the Grizzlies are establishing themselves as a top-three team in the West.

Currently riding a four-game winning streak, they might have a trade up their sleeve to take the team to another level. Regardless, Jenkins has kept Memphis not just afloat, but firmly among the best in the West.

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#3. Mark Daigneault (Last week’s ranking: #2)

Defending Coach of the Year Mark Daigneault slips to the No. 3 spot this week, and though no coach has won the award in consecutive seasons, he deserves praise for leading the OKC Thunder to the top of the West.

Despite a frontcourt plagued by injuries, the Thunder have maintained the league’s best defense, with Daigneault maximizing the team’s small-ball effectiveness..

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#2. Kenny Atkinson (Last week’s ranking: #1)

Kenny Atkinson drops to No. 2 after the Cavaliers’ loss to the Houston Rockets, marking their third defeat in six games. While Cleveland continues to boast the league’s best offensive rating, this award often hinges on momentum and narrative.

Atkinson’s transformation of the Cavaliers into an offensive powerhouse is well-recognized, but the coach of the Rockets — the team that handed him this latest loss — claims the top spot this week.

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#1. Ime Udoka (Last week’s ranking: No. 3)

Ime Udoka climbs to the top of the rankings as the coach of the week. His Houston Rockets, despite two losses in their last four games, have shown they can topple contenders. In their last 10 games, they’ve defeated the Grizzlies twice, the Nuggets and the Cavaliers.

Udoka has quickly molded Houston into a gritty, defense-first team (third in defensive rating) in just his second season. While the Thunder still lead the West, Udoka’s Rockets are becoming one of the league’s most compelling stories.