Sometimes a team can be defined by its stars leading the way. But sometimes their success can hinge on the head coach tasked with optimizing those stars.
Given that there's really only a handful of elite coaches out there, those tacticians can earn a sizeable salary for their duties.
Most recently, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue reportedly agreed to a lucrative contract extension that makes him among the league's well-paid staff. Monty Williams entered the season fresh off inking a record-breaking contract worth a reported $78.5 million over six years to be head coach of the Detroit Pistons, for an average salary of $13.05 million before incentives, but he was fired after going just 14-68 in his first season.
So, with Lue joining the list and Williams departing, here are the highest-paid NBA coaches entering the 2024 offseason.
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Who are the highest-paid coaches in the NBA?
Following the latest turnover and the 2023-24 season reaching the new year, let’s take a look at some of the highest-paid coaches:
1. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors: $35 million
NBA
Kerr has been cementing his legacy as a coach in the NBA following his successful playing career. Since joining the Warriors as head coach in 2014, he’s helped lead the team to four NBA titles and was named Coach of the Year in 2016.
Kerr reportedly signed a two-year extension worth $ 35 million, which is the most committed coaching money in league history. That agreement would put him at $17.5 million per season.
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs: $16 million
One of the most successful coaches of all time, having won five NBA titles, three Coach of the Year awards and helping the Spurs to 22 consecutive playoff berths from 1998 to 2019, Popovich tops this list. Coach Pop used to earn $11.5 million a year before a recent five-year, $80 million extension he signed in July bumped it to a reported $16 million. He also serves as the team's president of basketball operations.
3. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat: $15 million
Spoelstra started off as a video coordinator with Miami in 1995, a role which sees a person putting together clips to provide the coaching staff to better scout upcoming opponents. In 2008, the Heat made him their head coach, which so far has led to titles in 2012 and 2013. He was also a key figure in Miami’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals despite being an eight-seed.
In the 2023-24 season, Spoelstra signed an eight-year extension worth $120-plus million, which is the most committed coaching money in league history. At base level, that puts him at $15 million per season, not counting potential add-ons.
4. Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers: $14 million
Following the Clippers' playoff exit and rumors of him leaving elsewhere, Lue reportedly inked a five-year extension with the franchise that is worth an estimated $70 million total.
Lue, 47, previously led the Cleveland Cavaliers to three NBA Finals and succeeded with a title once. He's helped the Clippers make three playoff appearances, but they've only reached the conference finals once, which was Lue's first season with the team.
T-5. Nick Nurse: Philadelphia 76ers, $8 million
After winning a championship with the Raptors, the team parted ways with Nurse. The 76ers grabbed Nurse off the market and made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. Nurse will look to lead the Sixers to their first NBA championship since 1983.
T-5. Jason Kidd: Dallas Mavericks, $8 million
Kidd, a former NBA player, was hired as the head coach of the Mavericks in 2021 in a four-year deal and is now one of the highest paid coaches in the league. In his first year with Dallas, he led the team to 52 regular season wins and the Western Conference finals before falling to the Warriors. Kidd, who agreed to a multi-year extension in May for an undisclosed amount, guided the Mavs to the Finals last season before falling to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Who is the highest-paid NBA coach ever?
The highest-paid NBA coach ever is Steve Kerr. Kerr’s new deal makes him the highest paid coach in league history at $17.5 million a year.
