Thunder Head Coach Takes Home First NBA Award

Mark Daigneault Takes Home First NBA Award

With the Thunder having an average age of 24, Daigneault has led the youngest team in the modern era to the West’s No. 1 seed. It’s their first No. 1 seed since the 2013-14 season. At 57-25, Oklahoma City also has their highest win percentage (.695) in a decade. Furthermore, the Thunder and Boston Celtics are “the only two teams this season to rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency.”

This season, the Thunder ranked third in offensive rating (119.5) and fourth in defensive rating (112.1). Daigneault acknowledges Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-level performance as the driving force behind their two-way dominance. Nonetheless, his coaching can’t be ignored.

39 years old, Daigneault is highly regarded for his player development skills. The growth of Gilgeous-Alexander is perhaps the best example. However, Jalen Williams’ rapid evolution is further evidence of his ability.

Daigneault’s innovate approach and basketball IQ also make him a wizard with the clipboard, particularly after timeouts. That being said, installing a switch-heavy defensive scheme and motion offense isn’t out of the norm. Discipline and execution often differentiate teams with similar philosophies though.

To that point, Daigneault’s young Thunder have emulated their intelligent and level-headed head coach, leading to mature decision-making that goes beyond their years.