NBA Coach of the Year (COY) rankings 2024-25: Top 5 candidates in Week 9 ft. Tom Thibodeau

It’s nearly Christmas and Week 9 of the 2024-25 NBA season is officially in the books! The Milwaukee Bucks captured the Emirates NBA Cup, while the league standings experienced another shakeup following an exciting week.

A familiar name in the top five reclaimed the top spot after guiding his team through a stellar Week 9 performance.

Which coach earns the distinction of being the best this week? Let’s delve into the leading candidates for Coach of the Year as Week 9 wraps up.

Top five NBA Coach of the Year candidates after Week 8

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#5. Tom Thibodeau (Last week’s ranking: Unranked)

Tom Thibodeau makes his first appearance on the list this season, landing at No. 5 in Week 9. While the Eastern Conference is widely regarded as the weaker side of the league, the Knicks’ achievements under Thibodeau cannot be dismissed.

He led New York to three straight road wins, including two gritty victories in Week 9 over Western Conference contenders, the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans. The Knicks are now in a strong position to secure home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Thibodeau’s squad boasts the league’s second-best offense, powered by newly acquired center Karl-Anthony Towns. They also maintain their signature toughness on defense, anchored by Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.

While the Knicks haven’t been perfect, Thibodeau has slowly but surely instilled a clear identity in the team.

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#4. Joe Mazzulla (Last week’s ranking: #5)

Joe Mazzulla continues to climb the rankings, despite attracting less attention lately for his eccentric comments about the league and life. His Celtics split their games in Week 9, earning a win and a loss against the Chicago Bulls.

Still, Mazzulla’s placement on this list is well-deserved. The Celtics remain among the league leaders, boasting the third-best offense and net rating. With the team nearing full health, brighter outcomes could be on the horizon as Week 10 approaches.

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#3. Ime Udoka (Last week’s ranking: #2)

Ime Udoka's Rockets picked up two wins in Week 9, reinforcing their hold on the third seed in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.

Now in his second year with the Rockets, Udoka has transformed the team into a defensive powerhouse, ranking second in defensive rating and leading the league in rebounding.

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#2. Mark Daigneault (Last week’s ranking: #1)

The reigning Coach of the Year drops to No. 2 after his OKC Thunder suffered a tough loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup Final. While the loss doesn’t affect regular-season standings, it shifted the narrative in this week’s rankings.

Officially, the Thunder went undefeated in Week 9, notching road wins against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat after returning from their NBA Cup run in Las Vegas.

The team continues to dominate with the league’s best net rating and defensive rating, even while dealing with injuries to key players like Chet Holmgren. The impending return of center Jaylin Williams in Week 10 bodes well for their continued success.

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

Kenny Atkinson reclaims the top spot after leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a perfect 3-0 record in Week 9. The victories were not only decisive but came against formidable opponents: the Brooklyn Nets (by 29 points), Milwaukee Bucks (by 23 points) and Philadelphia 76ers (by 27 points).

This marks the sixth time Atkinson has topped these rankings. The Cavaliers boast the league’s best offense and the second-best net rating, solidifying Atkinson’s place as the leading candidate for NBA Coach of the Year as Week 9 concludes.