The NBA has named its Coaches of the Month for October and November, and it’s hard to argue with the choices. Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder and J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons have each earned the honor after guiding their teams to scorching starts in the 2024-25 season.
Let’s start in the West, where Daigneault continues to build on what’s becoming one of the most impressive coaching resumes in the league. Fresh off a 68-win campaign and a championship banner, the Thunder haven’t skipped a beat.
In fact, they’ve come out of the gate even stronger - Oklahoma City is sitting at 20-1 through the season’s first month-plus, once again boasting the NBA’s best record. That kind of start doesn’t happen by accident.
Daigneault has his team playing with the kind of cohesion and confidence that only comes from a strong culture and a clear vision. The Thunder aren’t just winning - they’re dictating the pace, dominating on both ends, and doing it with a roster that’s still incredibly young. It’s a testament to Daigneault’s ability to develop talent, manage egos, and keep a hungry team focused after reaching the mountaintop last season.
Over in the East, Bickerstaff is leading one of the league’s most surprising early-season stories. The Pistons, a team that’s spent the past few years rebuilding and recalibrating, have burst out to a 16-4 start - the best record in the conference and second only to the Thunder league-wide.
Bickerstaff deserves a ton of credit for getting this group to believe - and more importantly, to execute. Detroit is playing with a gritty, defensive-minded identity that echoes the franchise’s proud past, but they’re also showing offensive versatility and poise well beyond their years. For a team that’s been searching for direction, Bickerstaff has clearly provided one.
The league also acknowledged several other coaches who’ve made strong early impressions. In the West, David Adelman (Nuggets), Mitch Johnson (Spurs), Jordan Ott (Suns), and Ime Udoka (Rockets) were all in the mix. Each has had their moments, whether it’s guiding a contender, developing young talent, or navigating early-season adversity.
In the East, the list of nominees included Kenny Atkinson (Cavaliers), Mike Brown (Knicks), Jamahl Mosley (Magic), Darko Rajakovic (Raptors), Quin Snyder (Hawks), and Erik Spoelstra (Heat). That’s a deep bench of respected minds, and the fact that Bickerstaff emerged from that group tells you just how impactful his start has been.
It’s still early, but the tone has been set - and both Daigneault and Bickerstaff have their teams playing with purpose, poise, and plenty of momentum.