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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
Mar 17, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks gestures from the bench against the Chicago Bulls in the second quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 112-107. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Scott Brooks

Scott Brooks probably isn’t being talked about in the Coach of the Year conversation as much as he should be. The Washington Wizards didn’t get off the greatest start, but once everyone got settled in, they rapidly became one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Despite starting the season 3-9 and barely reaching .500 by the end of 2016, the Wizards have been one of the NBA’s hottest teams since the calendar flipped, winning 33 of their 49 games to battle all the way back from being out of the playoff picture to securing home-court advantage in the first round.

John Wall playing like a fringe MVP candidate and Bradley Beal having the healthiest season of his career certainly helped there, but Brooks helped turn an ineffective starting five from last season into one of the best in the NBA.

Without much bench help, the Wizards were able to put together an elite offense since the start of 2017. They’ve played the Cavaliers and Celtics tough in their head-to-head matchups and though they’ll be the 4-seed entering they playoffs, they may be overlooked in the East right now.

As a head coach well known for his ability to embrace and develop young talent, is it any surprise Brooks has coaxed career years out of Wall, Beal, Otto Porter Jr. and Kelly Oubre? It took awhile for the Wiz to find their groove, but as a new head coach in a new situation, Scott Brooks has exceeded expectations.