OKC’s Mark Daigneault bags 2023-2024 Kia NBA Coach of the Year

Oklahoma City Thunder head coachMark Daigneault has been named the 2023-2024 Kia NBA Coach of theYear, the league announced Sunday night.

Daigneault, 39, dominated thecoach of the year race, including finalists Jamahl Mosley of theOrlando Magic and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves.Daigneault finished with a total of 473 points with 89 1st placevotes (equivalent to five points), 9 2nd place votes (threepoints), and 1 3rd place votes (one point). Mosley came in distantsecond with 158 points while Finch came in at third with 105 totalpoints.

Daigneault and the Thunderexceeded expectations this season after taking the team to theWest’s no.1 seed despite being the second youngest team in theleague. Nobody expected the Thunder to be this good early already,and with that Daigneault rightfully deserves to win theaward.

The 39-year-old coach becomesthe second Thunder coach to win the award, joining Scott Brooks whowon in 2009-2010. Under Daigneault, the Thunder went 57-25 in theregular season and tied for the best record in the WesternConference, earning the No. 1 playoff seed. Oklahoma City becamethe youngest team (weighted by playing time) to finish with thebest record (or tied for the best) in its conference since 1970-71,the first NBA season with Eastern and Westernconferences.

The Thunder, who were the10-seed last season, made a 17-win improvement (40-42) to secure aplayoff berth for the first time in four years.