The multi-billion dollar empire of the NBA has led to a rapid increase in player and coach salaries. The league drew an all-time record 22.5 million fans to games this season, and a lucrative new TV rights deal is set to be officially announced shortly.
With recent news of UConn head coach Danny Hurley turning down a reported 6-year, $70 million deal from the Los Angeles Lakers — which would have been worth roughly $11.7 million annually — we are revisiting our list of the current highest-paid coaches in professional basketball.
Steve Kerr is the highest-paid NBA coach in 2024. In February, Kerr signed a 2-year, $35 million extension with the Warriors. The deal confirms he will earn $17.5 million annually, boosting him to the top of the list.
Since his hiring in 2014, Kerr has led Golden State to its most successful decade in franchise history.
Kerr has a .654 career winning percentage, four NBA titles, and was named one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history for the NBA’s 75th anniversary.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich previously held the title of highest-paid coach before Kerr’s record-setting extension. Popovich earns $16 million each year coaching in San Antonio.
Popovich is the longest-tenured coach in the NBA, entering his 23rd season as the head coach this Fall. He has the most wins of any coach on the list with 1,388.
Popovich has led the Spurs to four NBA titles and six 60-win seasons in his time with the Spurs.
Third on the list is Erik Spoelstra’s $15 million-a-year contract. Spoelstra has been at the helm of the Heat since 2008.
He’s been the definition of consistency, leading Miami to six NBA Finals trips and two titles. Spoelstra was the youngest active coach named to the NBA’s 15 greatest coaches list in 2022.
Coming in at fourth is Monty Williams. The Pistons coach signed a contract before the 2023-24 that nets $13 million annually.
He was the head coach of the Suns for four years, leading them to their first NBA Finals since the 90s.
Fifth on the list is the newly hired coach of the Suns, Mike Budenholzer. Budenholzer signed a 5-year deal this May that will net him $10 million a year.
He’s been named NBA Coach of the Year twice in his career and led the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years in 2021.
Only the top five coaches earn in the eight-figure range annually.
Despite some feelings of bias against small-market teams, Milwaukee’s Doc Rivers made the list, and is tied for seventh with several other notable coaches.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Coaches in the NBA
Below is the list of the highest-paid NBA coaches in 2024. The list was compiled with data from The Athletic, Basketball Reference, and Techopedia.
- Updated: June 6, 2024
| Rank | Coach | Team | Career Record | NBA Titles | Compensation |
| 1 | Steve Kerr | Golden State Warriors | 519-274 | 4 | $17.5 million |
| 2 | Gregg Popovich | San Antonio Spurs | 1388-821 | 5 | $16 million |
| 3 | Erik Spoelstra | Miami Heat | 750-527 | 2 | $15 million |
| 4 | Monty Williams | Detroit Pistons | 381-404 | 0 | $13 million |
| 5 | Mike Budenholzer | Phoenix Suns | 484-317 | 1 | $10 million |
| 6 | Mike Brown | Sacramento Kings | 441-286 | 0 | $8.5 million |
| T-7 | Nick Nurse | Philadelphia 76ers | 274-198 | 1 | $8 million |
| T-7 | Jason Kidd | Dallas Mavericks | 323-296 | 0 | $8 million |
| T-7 | Doc Rivers | Milwaukee Bucks | 1114-782 | 1 | $8 million |
| T-7 | Quin Snyder | Atlanta Hawks | 418-321 | 0 | $8 million |
| T-7 | Michael Malone | Denver Nuggets | 463-362 | 1 | $8 million |
| 12 | Rick Carlisle | Indiana Pacers | 943-828 | 1 | $7.25 million |
| 13 | Ime Udoka | Houston Rockets | 92-72 | 0 | $7.13 million |
| T-14 | Tyronn Lue | LA Clippers | 312-217 | 1 | $7 million |
| T-14 | Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks | 527-389 | 0 | $7 million |
| T-14 | Jamahl Mosley | Orlando Magic | 103-143 | 0 | $7 million |
| 17 | Billy Donovan | Chicago Bulls | 399-319 | 0 | $6 million |
| T-18 | Jacque Vaughn | Brooklyn Nets | 58-158 | 0 | $5 million |
| T-18 | J.B. Bickerstaff | Cleveland Cavaliers | 255-290 | 0 | $5 million |
| T-18 | Darvin Ham | Los Angeles Lakers | 90-74 | 0 | $5 million |
| 21 | Joe Mazzulla | Boston Celtics | 121-43 | 0 | $4.7 million |
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