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2016-17 NBA Awards Season: Top 5 Coach Of The Year Candidates

By Gerald Bourguet

April 10, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni watches game action against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 10, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni watches game action against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Coach of the Year
January 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left) instructs forward Draymond Green (23, right) during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 125-117. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Steve Kerr

I know what you’re thinking: Steve Kerr should probably be nowhere near this award since he has four top-20 superstars on his roster. The Golden State Warriors would be a powerhouse no matter who’s at the helm, and that’s enough to prevent him from being a serious candidate.

Hear me out though. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all still coming into their own when Mark Jackson was running the show, but the dramatic difference in offensive and defensive efficiency, playoff success and regular season wins in three years under Kerr shouldn’t be ignored either.

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Adding Kevin Durant to a roster that just won 73 games softens his case for the 2016-17 campaign, but it’s worth noting that losing a quality two-way wing in Harrison Barnes, an extremely important rim protector in Andrew Bogut and plenty of bench depth meant adjustments had to be made.

And yet, here the Warriors are, sitting with the best record, best point differential, top-ranked offense and second-best defense in the league. For the third season in a row, the Warriors are going to finish with the best record in the association, winning at least 66 games all three times.

Kerr isn’t singlehandedly responsible for turning the Warriors into a perennial juggernaut and potential dynasty, but he was the initial force that set things in motion. The culture is completely different and the Dubs have learned how to maximize their talents under his tutelage.

That — along with fielding an elite defense despite the change in personnel, loss of Bogut and absence of Durant for a month — makes him deserving of at least the top five in the voting.