NBA Coach of the Year preview: Is it finally time for Heat's Erik Spoelstra to win award?

Roster turnover and differing expectations make Coach of the Year tough to predict in the NBA. That's not going to stop us, however. As the regular season begins Tuesday night, here are coaches who will be in the conversation for COTY:

Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City seems to be nearly everyone's favorite pick to make a big jump in the standings thanks to Chet Holmgren's return and health, Jalen Williams' growth and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's continued brilliance. But the man in charge is just as important in this equation. Daigneault appears to have full buy-in from all the youngsters on the roster, and could earn kudos from the rest of the league if OKC becomes a playoff team.

Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

Would you believe us if we said Spoelstra has never won Coach of the Year? Somehow, that's true. The Heat are thin behind their stars, but Spoelstra repeatedly has managed to get the absolute most from each player he oversees. If he can do that again and Miami can grind its way into a top-six seed in the East, Spo might finally get some (individual) hardware. 

Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

Udoka has never not won Coach of the Year as an NBA head coach. Sure, he's only been coaching for one season, but that's still batting 1.000. Udoka will oversee a Rockets team that spent a whole lot of money this offseason. It feels like a lifetime ago, but Boston was in a bit of disarray before Udoka got there in 2021-22 (they had just been swept by Brooklyn in the first round the year prior.) If Udoka can bring the same defensive buy-in to Houston that he did to Boston, he might win COTY and make everyone say, "We probably should have seen this coming."

Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets

This pick might be so obvious that it becomes not obvious, therefore making it a good pick. Fresh off of an NBA title, Denver has absolutely no pressure on it this season and will be playing free, fun hoops. Malone has proven himself to be in the top tier of NBA coaches (406-337 record in 11 seasons.) Denver competing in (or winning) the West could be enough for Malone to get the "respect" vote.

Adrian Griffin, Milwaukee Bucks

Damian Lillard's trade to the Bucks has understandably overshadowed the fact that Milwaukee has a new head coach, not just a new superstar. From 2008-23, Griffin bounced around the league as an assistant, including with Toronto's championship team in 2019. Now he gets to run a team with championship aspirations. Griffin's work is cut out for him, but a top-two finish in the East could win him COTY in his first season as a head coach.