Who Is The Highest Paid NBA Coach In Basketball? (2023/24)

• Gregg Popovich is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history and the highest paid coach in 2023/24

• Popovich is followed by several other coaches with title credentials

• Read below for the list of the 10 highest paid NBA coaches this season

The last 12 months have seen a major shift in the NBA head coaching landscape. Detroit made Monty Williams the highest-paid coach in league history, which seemed to reset the market.

The knock-on effect was immediate. Erik Spoelstra and Gregg Popovich – two of the greatest head coaches in NBA history - penned contract extensions.

NBA Head Coach Salaries

• Tyronn Lue - $6.5 million

• Ime Udoka - $7 million

• Michael Malone - ~$7 million

• Rick Carlisle - $7.5 million

• Jason Kidd - $8 million

• Nick Nurse - $8 million

• Steve Kerr - $9.5 million

• Monty Williams - $13 million

• Erik Spoelstra - $15 million

• Gregg Popovich - $16 million

After winning the title with the Denver Nuggets, Michael Malone also received a new deal, further consolidating the Nuggets’ core which has made them basketball betting favourites.

All figures are courtesy of Clutch Points.

Tyronn Lue - $6.5 million

Players seem to love Tyronn Lue. He had an excellent relationship with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in Cleveland, which resulted in the 2016 title. Lue was linked with the Lakers job a couple of years ago to reunite with James. 

Instead, he waited it out and succeeded Doc Rivers as Clippers head coach. Lue has had to deal with roster turnover, injuries to stars and load management, but the 2023-24 season looks like it could be the best of his tenure after the James Harden trade. 

Ime Udoka - $7 million

Ime Udoka left the Boston Celtics in messy circumstances after an improper relationship with a team employee. Udoka had turned the Celtics into a Finals team, though, and it was always a matter of time before he was snapped up elsewhere.

Houston was the team to take that plunge in the 2023 offseason. Armed with young talent and some veteran additions, Udoka set about making the Rockets a functional team after years of losing. It remains to be seen if that will result in a postseason appearance. 

Michael Malone - ~$7 million

Michael Malone’s contract extension was signed after the Nuggets won the title in 2023. It reportedly made him among the highest-paid NBA head coaches.

While an exact figure is yet to be reported, it’s a fair guess to put Malone around the $7 million mark which would place him just outside the top seven.

The Nuggets have a real shot at becoming a dynasty with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Malone signed up long-term. 

Rick Carlisle - $7.5 million

Rick Carlisle led the Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks to the 2011 title. He was there to usher in the Luka Doncic era. Renowned as one of the league’s premier coaches, Carlisle wasn’t going to be out of work long when he left the Mavs. 

Indiana picked up Carlisle on a big-money contract, and it has quickly reaped rewards. Constructing a high-powered offence around Tyrese Haliburton, Carlisle has made the Pacers into a must-watch team.

Hopes are high for the coming years after trading for Pascal Siakam. 

Jason Kidd - $8 million

Despite disappointing in Milwaukee, Dallas turned to Jason Kidd to succeed Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks failed to make the Playoffs in 2022-23 after trading for Kyrie Irving, but they have stuck by the former point guard. 

The pressure is on in Dallas, and Kidd is no exception. Luka Doncic is among the league’s elite talents – how much longer will he want to stay with the team if they are not competing for a title? 

Nick Nurse - $8 million

Winning the title in his first season with the Raptors, Nick Nurse was a man-in-demand this offseason. The Philadelphia 76ers won the sweepstakes, leaving some other franchises wondering what might have been. 

Nurse carefully navigated the latest James Harden trade request. He revamped the offence around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Philly fans are going to see some game-changing coaching decisions in the Playoffs, which is a far cry from the days of Brett Brown and Doc Rivers. 

Steve Kerr - $9.5 million

Creator of the most recent NBA dynasty, Steve Kerr is one of the most decorated people in NBA history. Rumours that Kerr has considered leaving the Warriors in recent years have proven to be nothing more than that.

Some have underrated Kerr’s coaching nous because of the talent he has had at his disposal.

The 2023-24 season has been an up-and-down one for the Warriors thus far, and the former Chicago Bull has received widespread criticism for his rotation decisions, particularly surrounding Jonathan Kuminga. 

Monty Williams - $13 million

The Pistons hired Monty Williams to change their culture. Detroit has been in the depths of the lottery for years, and they had just seen Williams transform the Suns from a 19-win team to Western Conference champions.

A few months in, Detroit has had an historic losing streak. Williams has made curious calls with allocating minutes, appearing to stifle the development of some recent draft picks. 

While he will be afforded time to build around Cade Cunningham, early signs have not been good. 

Erik Spoelstra - $15 million

Whether you believe in ‘Heat Culture’ or not, there is no question that the Miami Heat excels at developing talent. Erik Spoelstra plays a huge role in that, both in his coaching and his trust in lesser-known players.

The Heat find diamonds in the rough every year. Spoelstra coaches his way to a Playoff berth regardless of stars missing time or down years from supposed rotation locks. 

When the Playoffs begin, opposing fan bases fear their head coaches going up against Spoelstra. He has run rings around his opposite number throughout his career – Spoelstra is heading to the Hall of Fame, and he’s got a while left yet. 

Gregg Popovich - $16 million

It’s been a while since the San Antonio Spurs have been a factor in NBA outright betting, but that should change in the coming years after drafting Victor Wembanyama. 

Like Kerr, there have been suggestions Popovich will call it a day in the near future. The five-time NBA champion decided to take the opposite route in the summer of 2023, penning a record-breaking contract extension.

Arguably the greatest coach in league history, it’s no surprise San Antonio is splashing out $16 million per season for Popovich.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*