'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There wouldn't be an NBA championship-winning team without a worthy head coach and coaching staff behind it. Although the four conference finalists may be surprising this year, there is plenty of experience at the helm, with Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer leading the way with four chips after his time spent as assistant with the San Antonio Spurs.
It is who he formerly reported to, Gregg Popovich, who does make our list of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA right now, along with four others closely behind him, making a pretty sum for their jobs.
The NBA has exploded in popularity and reach in the 21st century. Therefore, it is not only the players who deserve to reap the rewards of that exposure. Without their head coaches, who would run and draw up the plays? Would we see Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving directing their teammates in the huddle? Surely not if KD was playing every single minute of the game as he did in the playoffs.
Teams need head coaches and so we have decided to run down those who earn the highest salary for what they do.
#5 Rick Carlisle
Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle wasn't out of work long, after it was announced on Thursday that he would be re-joining the Indiana Pacers. Carlisle is reported to have signed a four-year deal worth $29m, which would bring him $7.25m annually.
Carlisle spent four years previously with the Pacers from 2003-2007 and took them to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season. However, results dropped in the following campaigns and he moved West to coach the Mavs, where he was at the helm for 13 years during the most successful period in franchise history. Under his tutelage, Dallas finally won an NBA title after previous disappointments with Dirk Nowitzki leading the team.
#4 Doc Rivers
Had this been a few years ago, Doc Rivers would certainly be higher on our list of the highest-paid NBA coaches. While at the LA Clippers, Rivers was the team's President alongside his coaching duties and earned around $10m. Now with the Philadelphia 76ers, the 59-year-old is said to be earning about $8m.
Out of all the coaches in the NBA, Rivers has one of the toughest tasks this offseason, considering the pressure to win a title he is under with the Sixers. They flattered to deceive in the playoffs despite topping the Eastern Conference during the regular season, losing to the Atlanta Hawks after an entertaining seven-game series. Now he will have to reshuffle his roster again and there are a lot of rumors circulating around Ben Simmons' future, as well as forward Danny Green's.
Rivers has been voted NBA Coach of the Year once before in 2000 while in charge of the Orlando Magic and won a title in 2008 as head coach of the Boston Celtics.
#3 Steve Nash
The Brooklyn Nets had one of the most star-studded lineups in NBA history this season and were led by a two-time MVP of the league in Steve Nash. Although the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Blake Griffin need little coaching, the Nets were keen to lock Nash down to a four-year deal in 2020 in pursuit of a championship. In reports surrounding his contract, Nash is said to earn around $8.7m a year, making him the third-highest paid coach despite his lack of experience in the role.
Of course, they came up short this season. However, they were injury-ridden in their conference semifinal battle against the Milwaukee Bucks. Nash will be keen to have a full summer to work with his three superstars, hoping that they can return to full fitness and craft their plans to return as title favorites next season.
#2 Steve Kerr
While the details of Steve Kerr's new multi-year contract extension are unclear, reports suggest that the Golden State Warriors coach earns at least double of what he was previously earning. That puts his average annual income at about $10m per season. Hardly surprising for a coach who helped create a dynasty and won three championships in the last six years.
Kerr is one of the most experienced coaches in the NBA and one of the most decorated. In addition to his three rings as head coach, the 55-year-old also won five titles as a player for the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. Helping to re-create a winning mentality with the Warriors has been key to his success and they will remain playoff contenders next year once Klay Thompson is back from injury.
#1 Gregg Popovich
It is no surprise that the league's longest-tenured coach, Gregg Popovich, has the highest salary in the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs legend has made the franchise what it is today, implementing his hard-working, efficient style of basketball and winning the side's only five championships.
From 1999 to 2007, the Spurs dominated the NBA, winning four of their rings behind the leadership of Popovich and Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. Since he took charge of the side in 1996, the Spurs have finished outside of the top-4 teams in the West on only eight occasions and had the best record in the conference seven times.
Popovich signed a three-year contract extension with San Antonio in 2019, which reportedly earns him around $11m per year.
Guess the Lakers players!
