Who are the highest paid NBA coaches? originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Having stars on the floor is a great way to achieve success in the NBA, but boasting an elite coach is just as important.
There are only a few of the said coaches who roam the baselines in the league, but the tacticians get paid a lot for their duties.
The latest to get a big bag is Monty Williams, who was reportedly hired by the Detroit Pistons in a lucrative deal after his exit from the Phoenix Suns.
But how much has Williams done? Here’s a look at who the NBA’s highest-paid coaches are:
Who are the highest paid NBA coaches?
Not the same salary of NBA players, staff salaries are not widely reported or available. In 2021, Sporty published a list of the highest paid coaches in US sports, and seven of them are in the NBA. However, four of them were released in the 2022-23 campaign: Steve Nash (Nets), Doc Rivers (76ers), Mike Budenholzer (Bucks) and Nick Nurse (Raptors).
In the wake of Williams’ latest turnover and reported hire, let’s take a look at some of the highest-paid coaches:
1. Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons: $13.05 million
Williams’ new deal in Detroit is worth $78.5 million over six years, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and James L. Edwards III report, citing sources, on Wednesday. That means Williams’ average salary is $13.05 million, but it doesn’t take into account how incentives are reported to increase the contract to $100 million over eight years. Williams had the luxury of time to develop a young Pistons who said while being paid a lot for his services.
Coach Pop held the top spot for a long time, and deservedly so. He is one of the most successful coaches of all time, winning five NBA titles, three Coach of the Year awards and helping the Spurs to 22 consecutive playoff berths from 1998 to 2019.
Kerr also cemented his legacy as an NBA coach after his successful playing career. Since joining the Warriors as head coach in 2014, he helped lead the team to four NBA titles and was named Coach of the Year in 2016.
4. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat: $8.5 million
Spoelstra started as a video coordinator at Miami in 1995, putting together clips to allow the coaching staff to better scout upcoming opponents. In 2008, the heat He was made their head coach, which has so far brought titles in 2012 and 2013. He has also been a key figure in Miami’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals despite being the eight seed.
5. Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers: $7.25 million
Rivers, Budenholzer, Nurse and Nash all made north of $8 million before their exits, which bumped Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle to fifth. The 63-year-old signed a four-year deal in 2021 worth a reported 29 million. Carlisle coached the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA title in 2011 and was named Coach of the Year in 2002 with the Pistons.
