NBA Coach of the Year Power Rankings: Who’s Rising, Who’s Sliding as the In-Season Tournament Wraps Up
As the knockout round of the NBA’s inaugural Emirates Cup wraps up, the focus shifts back to the grind of the regular season - and with it, the coaches making the most noise across the league. Whether it’s through innovative schemes, surprising win streaks, or turning traditional systems on their heads, a handful of head coaches are separating themselves from the pack.
Let’s dive into the latest NBA Coach of the Year power rankings - who’s climbing, who’s slipping, and who’s making a serious case for some hardware.
5. Ime Udoka - Houston Rockets (Back in the Top 5)
Ime Udoka returns to the rankings after a brief absence, reclaiming the No. 5 spot he held earlier in the season. And he’s earned it - not just for the wins, but for how the Rockets are winning.
Despite missing a key piece in Kevin Durant, Udoka has guided Houston to a string of victories by leaning into a style that bucks the modern NBA trend. In a league obsessed with three-point shooting, the Rockets are zagging where others zig.
They attempt the fewest threes in the league (30.9 per game), yet they rank second in offensive rating. That’s not a typo - it’s a testament to how Udoka is maximizing every possession.
The secret sauce? A bruising double-big lineup featuring Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams.
Their size and physicality have turned Houston into a rebounding machine, leading the NBA with 49.4 boards per game, including a league-best 16.6 on the offensive glass. That’s how you generate extra possessions without needing to bomb away from deep.
Udoka didn’t invent the double-big look, but he’s made it work in a way that feels fresh - and effective.
4. Erik Spoelstra - Miami Heat (New Entry)
Erik Spoelstra makes his first appearance in the rankings, and it’s not hard to see why. The Heat are sitting comfortably near the top of the Eastern Conference, and they’re doing it with an offense that looks nothing like what we’ve come to expect.
Spoelstra, with help from consultant Noah Laroche (formerly of the Grizzlies), has installed a free-flowing system that minimizes reliance on the pick-and-roll - a staple of NBA offenses for decades. Miami runs just 5.4 pick-and-rolls per game, the fewest in the league by a wide margin. For context, that’s less than half of what the next-lowest team (Utah) runs and a fraction of what the league-leading Hornets use.
And yet, the Heat are putting up 123.6 points per game, good enough to keep them firmly in the East’s top tier. Reinvention is never easy, especially for a team with a veteran core, but Spoelstra has pulled it off. He’s proving once again why he’s one of the most respected minds in the game.
3. JB Bickerstaff - Detroit Pistons (Down One Spot)
JB Bickerstaff slips a spot this week, but let’s not overlook what he’s accomplished. Guiding the Pistons to a 13-game win streak - something only two other Pistons teams have done (both of which went on to win championships) - is no small feat.
That said, the last three games have exposed some cracks. Detroit has struggled mightily with ball security, posting the league’s worst assist-to-turnover ratio and turnover rate over that stretch.
Offensively, there’s still some fine-tuning needed, particularly when it comes to integrating Jaden Ivey. Since returning, Ivey has struggled to find his rhythm, highlighted by a minus-10 in just 10 minutes during a close loss to Orlando.
Bickerstaff has the Pistons playing hard and defending with purpose, but if Detroit wants to stay in the top tier, they’ll need to clean things up offensively - and quickly.
2. JJ Redick - Los Angeles Lakers (Up One Spot)
JJ Redick continues to climb, moving up to No. 2 on the list. The Lakers have reeled off seven straight wins since their loss to the Thunder, and while the schedule hasn’t been the most daunting, Redick is getting results - and doing it while reintegrating LeBron James back into the lineup.
Despite what the analytics may say about LA’s overall profile, Redick has this team locked in. The offense is flowing, the defense is engaged, and the Lakers are playing with a sense of identity that wasn’t always there in recent seasons.
There’s still plenty of basketball to play, but Redick’s ability to manage stars, keep the locker room balanced, and stack wins is starting to turn heads.
1. Mark Daigneault - Oklahoma City Thunder (Holding at No. 1)
No surprise here - Mark Daigneault remains at the top, and for good reason. The Thunder extended their win streak to 12 games with a statement win over the Trail Blazers, the only team to beat them this season.
Even with injuries - Jalen Williams just returned, and now Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to miss time - OKC hasn’t missed a beat. They boast the league’s best defense by a wide margin and lead the NBA in net rating. The December schedule looks favorable, which means this team could keep rolling.
It’s not just about the numbers, though. Daigneault has built a culture of accountability, effort, and execution. The Thunder play like a team that knows exactly who they are - and that’s a reflection of their coach.
If OKC keeps this pace and flirts with history - we’re talking 70-plus wins - Daigneault could find himself in the company of legends like Phil Jackson and Steve Kerr, both of whom won Coach of the Year after leading their teams to historic seasons.
Final Word
There’s still a long way to go in the season, but the Coach of the Year race is heating up. From tactical reinventions to culture-setting leadership, these five coaches are making their mark - and if the early returns are any indication, we’re in for a thrilling ride.