OKC Thunder: ESPN Experts Predict Mark Daigneault to Win Coach of the Year

ESPN released their predictions for every major award ahead of the 2023-24 season, and experts believe Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault has a decent chance to win Coach of the Year.

Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault received high praise on Monday, being labeled as most likely to win Coach of the Year next season according to ESPN’s panel of experts.

Daigneault edged out well-decorated Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra and last year’s championship-winning head coach Michael Malone from the Denver Nuggets. 

Here’s how the numbers looked for the top four voted:

1. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder: 58 points (38.5% of first place votes)
2. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat: 42 points (19.2%)
3. Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets: 18 points (7.7%)
4. Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies: 15 points (7.7%)

Daigneault receives these expectations deservedly. A 16-win improvement last season in a year which exceeded nearly every expectation the Thunder held, and his coaching style has allowed his team to flourish and develop in this rebuild.

Daigneault came second in Coach of the Year voting in 2022-23, receiving 48 second place points. Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown received the award unanimously with 100 first place votes.

Daigneault helped lead OKC to the play-in tournament last season as the 10th seed and defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in their first play-in contest, 123-118. Advancing to play the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Thunder were dealt an overwhelming 120-95 defeat to end their season.

After what could have been a season of struggle, Daigneault helped right the ship to make a play-in game and compete against the No. 8 seed with the youngest team in the league — also without his No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren.

Despite being set up for a lackluster season, Daigneault and the Thunder were of the highest scoring teams throughout the league with 117.48 points per game. Also, after finishing last in the Northwest division for the past two seasons, OKC was able to move up two spots ahead of the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers to claim the No. 3 spot.

Following the end of the 2022-23 season, Daigneault inked a multi-year contract extension with the Thunder in July.

Daigneault will have a much better idea of how his supporting players will surround his centerpiece in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the incoming rookie in Holmgren this season, as the talent and depth continues to grow for OKC. 

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