How Much Do NBA Coaches Get Paid?

How much do NBA coaches get paid? This is a question that often comes up, and the answer may surprise you. While some coaches make millions of dollars per year, others are paid a more modest salary.

The average salary of an NBA coach

In 2018, the average salary for an NBA head coach was $6 million, according to Forbes. That’s up from $5.7 million in 2017 and $5.4 million in 2016. The highest-paid coach in the NBA is Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, who made $11 million in 2018.

The highest-paid NBA coach

The highest-paid NBA coach is Doc Rivers, who leads the Los Angeles Clippers. Rivers earns a reported $10 million per year, which is nearly double the salaries of the next highest-paid NBA coaches.

Rivers is followed by Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, who both earn annual salaries of $5 million. In fourth place is Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who reportedly earns $7 million per year. Rounding out the top five is Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, who earns $6 million annually.

Among assistant coaches, the highest-paid assistant in the NBA is Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors, who earnings a reported $2.5 million per year.

The lowest-paid NBA coach

The average salary for an NBA head coach is $6 million per year, but there is wide variation among individual coaches. The highest-paid coach in the league is Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, who makes $11 million per year. The lowest-paid coach in the NBA is Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets, who has a salary of $1.7 million per year.

In addition to their regular season salaries, NBA coaches also earn bonuses for postseason performance. For example, Popovich earned a bonus of $500,000 for leading the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals in 2013. Clifford, on the other hand, did not earn a bonus for guiding the Hornets to the playoffs in 2014.

NBA coaches typically have contracts that run for four years or longer. However, shorter contracts are not uncommon, particularly for coaches who are taking over struggling teams. For example, Tyrone Corbin signed a two-year contract when he became head coach of the Utah Jazz in 2014.

How NBA coaches’ salaries compare to other professional coaches’ salaries

In the NBA, each team is allowed to have a maximum of two assistant coaches. The average salary for an assistant coach in the NBA is $1 million per year. For head coaches, the average salary is much higher at $6 million per year. However, there are a few head coaches who make much more than that. The highest-paid NBA coach is currently Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, who makes $11 million per year. That is more than twice the average salary for an NBA head coach.

In comparison to other professional sports leagues, NBA coaches’ salaries are relatively high. For example, in Major League Baseball, the average salary for a manager is around $3 million per year. In the National Football League, the average salary for a head coach is around $5 million per year. And in the National Hockey League, the average salary for a head coach is around $2 million per year. So, while NBA coaches’ salaries are not the highest among all professional sports leagues, they are still very competitive.