Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Coach of the Year
Feb 15, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich calls a play against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Gregg Popovich

Much like people talk about LeBron James in relation to the MVP Award, there’s a case to be made for Gregg Popovich winning Coach of the Year Award every year simply because when it comes down to it, they’re the best the league has to offer.

Pop probably won’t get many votes since he’s already won the award three times and everyone already knows how great he is, but it’s no small feat for the San Antonio Spurs to win 60+ games in their first season without Tim Duncan.

Even with the emergence of Kawhi Leonard as a legitimate MVP candidate, Pop is the constant variable behind San Antonio’s sustained success. Dating back to the 1997-98 season, the Spurs have won at least 60 percent of their games and made the playoffs every single year. That kind of consistency is unparalleled in the modern NBA.

Not only that, but in the first season without their greatest defender in franchise history, the Spurs are still leading the league in defensive efficiency. The man turned LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol into respectable defenders, for crying out loud!

If this were a lifetime  achievement award, Pop would be the unquestioned frontrunner. Other coaches have better narratives going for them this season, but we all know who we’d pick as our head coach if our favorite team faced a must-win game.