We’re at the midway point of the NBA season, and if you’ve been paying attention, you know it’s been anything but predictable. Boston and Detroit are setting the pace in the East, San Antonio is near the top out West, and injuries have tested depth charts across the league. Through it all, we’ve seen some incredible basketball-highlight reels courtesy of Victor Wembanyama are practically a nightly routine at this point.
But midseason also means it’s time to take a hard look at the league’s top performers-not just players, but the ones pulling the strings from the sidelines. Let’s talk Coach of the Year, a race that’s as competitive and nuanced as any in recent memory.
Coach of the Year Leaderboard (So Far)
- Joe Mazzulla - Boston Celtics
- **J.B.
Bickerstaff - Detroit Pistons**
3.
Jordan Ott - Phoenix Suns
Let’s break down why these three are leading the pack-and why the race is far from over.
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Let’s be clear: Joe Mazzulla isn’t just managing expectations in Boston-he’s redefining them. Coming into the season, the Celtics were widely seen as a team in transition. The term “gap year” was thrown around far too often, especially after roster changes left the team without a traditional rim protector and with a supporting cast that looked, on paper, like it might struggle to keep up defensively.
Mazzulla didn’t blink.
Instead, he’s turned this Celtics squad into a cohesive, high-IQ unit that punches above its weight on both ends of the floor. He’s leaned into the strengths of his role players, empowered them to play with confidence, and found creative ways to keep the defense respectable without a dominant big man patrolling the paint. This isn’t just a good coaching job-it might be the best of his career, ring or not.
J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
If you’re not paying attention to what’s happening in Detroit, now’s the time. Two years ago, the Pistons finished with just 14 wins-a historically rough campaign.
Fast forward to today, and they’re not just competitive; they’re thriving. And that’s not just about Cade Cunningham.
J.B. Bickerstaff has built something sustainable in the Motor City.
He’s developed young talent like Jalen Duren, putting him in positions to succeed on both ends. He’s crafted a defensive identity that has Detroit sitting near the top of the league in defensive efficiency.
And perhaps most impressively, he’s done it by maximizing the talent he has, not wishing for what he doesn’t.
This isn’t a flash-in-the-pan turnaround. It’s the product of two years of intentional, disciplined coaching.
Jordan Ott, Phoenix Suns
Jordan Ott has flown under the radar in the national conversation, but around the league, people are taking notice. What he’s done in Phoenix is nothing short of transformative.
Ott didn’t just tweak the Suns’ system-he overhauled it. He’s retooled the defensive scheme to better match the roster, and the results speak for themselves. Offensively, he’s changed the team’s shot profile, getting better looks and more efficient production out of a group that, frankly, looked stagnant at times in the past.
There’s a new energy in Phoenix, and Ott deserves a ton of credit for that. Culture shift?
Check. Tactical improvement?
Check. Buy-in from the roster?
Absolutely.
Other Names in the Mix
This is one of those years where the Coach of the Year conversation could easily go six or seven deep. Mitch Johnson has the Spurs ahead of schedule, which is no small feat given the youth on that roster.
Mark Daigneault continues to keep the Thunder locked in and focused, even when other teams might coast. David Adelman has kept the Nuggets rolling despite a wave of injuries, and Erik Spoelstra-well, he’s Erik Spoelstra.
Miami is in the thick of it again, and that’s never an accident.
Betting Perspective: Who Has the Edge?
According to NBC Sports betting analyst Jay Croucher, this is a strong field-but if the Pistons hold onto the top seed in the East, J.B. Bickerstaff could be the one to beat.
He’s taken a 14-win team and turned it into a potential No. 1 seed in just two seasons. That’s not just a turnaround-it’s a full-scale rebuild done right.
Final Word
Coach of the Year is always one of the trickiest awards to nail down. It’s not just about wins and losses-it’s about context, growth, and how well a coach maximizes the roster in front of them.
Right now, Mazzulla gets the edge for the job he’s done in Boston, but Bickerstaff and Ott are right there. And with half a season still to play, don’t be surprised if someone else crashes the party.
This race is far from over.