With the NBA season taking shape, it’s time to start looking ahead to the award races. This includes Coach of the Year, which figures to be one of the more compelling competitions this year.
Last season, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson won the award, leading them to a 64-18 record, the second-best in the Eastern Conference, in his first season as the team’s head coach. He was the third Cavaliers’ head coach to win the award, following Bill Fitch and Mike Brown.
Several candidates have caught my eye, including some new faces and familiar ones.
Let’s examine the latest NBA Coach of the Year odds for 2025-26.
NBA Coach of the Year Odds 2025
These NBA lines are current as of Friday, Oct. 17, at 9 p.m. ET and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Jamahl Mosley (+550)
- Ime Udoka (+600)
- David Adelman (+700)
- Quin Snyder (+800)
- Mitch Johnson (+1400)
- J.B. Bickerstaff (+1400)
- Mike Brown (+1500)
All other candidates to win NBA COTY have odds of (+1600) or longer.
Who Will Win NBA Coach of the Year?
Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic (+550)
While this is the chalky pick as Mosley has the top odds, it makes sense. He’s in his fifth season with the team and has an 88-76 record over the last two seasons, finishing 41-41 last season. They finished seventh in the East, but lost in the first round of the playoffs. This was a positive result amid dealing with injuries to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Moritz Wagner.
Now, they could be in the top half of the Eastern Conference teams as they have Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and also traded for Desmond Bane.
The team also added Tyus Jones in free agency and drafted Jase Richardson and Noah Penda.
Last season, Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Look for the Magic to exceed expectations in 2025-26 and take the sure bet on Jamahl Mosley (+550) with your NBA bet of the day.
NBA Coach of the Year Favorites
Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic (+550)
I discussed Mosley above as my pick to win the award; there’s a lot of talent on this team, and they’re only ascending. If not for injuries, it would’ve been intriguing to see what the Magic could’ve done in the playoffs.
- See where the Magic stand in the latest 2025 NBA Finals odds.
Expect them to easily cross that 50-win threshold.
Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets (+600)
Udoka is entering his third season as the Rockets’ head coach. They went from 41-41 in 2023-24 to 52-30 in 2024-25.
Now, the team added a bunch of talent, including Clint Capela, Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh Okogie. They did lose Dillon Brooks, N’Faly Dante, Jalen Green, and Jock Lockdale, but they’ve more than made up for it.
The key will be Durant: can he fit into this team? He’ll be 37, and he, of course, has the talent to catapult them into NBA title contention.
NBA Coach of the Year Contenders
David Adelman, Denver Nuggets (+700)
Adelman took over the Nuggets just before the playoffs last season, and they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Conference Semifinals. Now, he’ll get a full season with the team that Nikola Jokic leads.
The team added Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Cameron Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas, but lost key pieces like Dario Saric, Russell Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr., and more.
A lot of the Nuggets’ success will rest on not only Jokic but also Christian Braun. He took a massive step forward last season, and it’ll be exciting to see him ascend, which could help Adelman secure a COTY award.
Quin Snyder, Atlanta Hawks (+900)
The 2025-26 season will mark Snyder’s third full season as the Hawks’ head coach since taking over late in the 2022-23 season.
In his first full season, 2023-24, Snyder went 36-46 and last season, the team improved to 40-42.
They saw a lot of talent leave, including Clint Capela, Caris LeVert, Terance Mann, and more, but they also added Luke Kennard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and the big one, Kristaps Porzingis.
A duo of Trae Young and Porzingis should be one to behold, assuming Porzingis can stay upright.
On paper, this team should improve mightily, but will the chemistry be there?
NBA Coach of the Year Sleepers
Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs (+1400)
Johnson stepped in for the legendary Gregg Popovich last season as he was dealing with an illness. He coached them for 77 games, going 32-45. Now, this will be his first full season with the team as the head coach.
Of course, the team has one of the more exciting young duos in the sport in Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. However, Wembanyama only played 46 games last season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.
The team brought in talent like Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk, and Lindy Waters III, and drafted Dylan Harper No. 2 overall. Harper is going to be an interesting fit as they have Fox, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell, but they couldn’t pass up on the Rutgers star.
This team has the potential to be elite, but they’re young and need health to be on their side.
J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons (+1400)
Bickerstaff enters his second season with the Detroit Pistons, pulling them out of obscurity to a 44-38 record.
Now, the team will look to continue ascending after finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference. The team added Javonte Green, LaVert, and Duncan Robinson. They did lose players like Simone Fontecchio, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dennis Schroder, but the new additions should be a net positive.
The team will be happy to have Jaden Ivey back after suffering a broken left fibula on New Year’s Day.
With the new additions and, hopefully, a full season from Ivey, I’ll expect the Pistons to be higher up in the standings in the Eastern Conference.
