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NBA Awards Watch: Klay Thompson on the rise

By Brad Rowland

Jan 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) is greeted after scoring a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Thompson set a record 52 points in their win over the kings.
Jan 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) is greeted after scoring a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Thompson set a record 52 points in their win over the kings. /
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Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer calls a play for center Al Horford (15) and guard Kyle Korver (26) during a time out in the fourth quarter of their game against the Indiana Pacers at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 110- 91. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer calls a play for center Al Horford (15) and guard Kyle Korver (26) during a time out in the fourth quarter of their game against the Indiana Pacers at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 110- 91. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Coach of the Year

  1. Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks – The Hawks are the talk of the NBA at the moment, and Budenholzer makes them tick. Atlanta has won 16 consecutive games (not a misprint) on their way to a 37-8 overall record and a seven-game lead in the Eastern Conference, and without the benefit of a roster laden with absolute superstars, that is the definition of a resume fit for a Coach of the Year front-runner. It should be noted that the Hawks do have a talented group, including what should be multiple All-Star selections, but Budenholzer’s system has maximized the efforts of his players on both ends, and Atlanta lands among the NBA’s elite on both offense and defense.
  2. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors – Even with Atlanta’s recent binge of victories, the Warriors still have the league’s best record (36-6) and net rating (+13.3 points per 100 possessions). That is insanity. As a first-year head coach, Steve Kerr has passed every test with flying colors, and in a weird way, he is being “punished” in the COY race because Golden State has a superstar talent in the form of Stephen Curry while Atlanta does not. Kerr’s best work has come in transforming Golden State’s offense, and the Warriors are playing at incredible levels on both ends. Golden State is the best team in the league, and if the Hawks falter at all, Kerr could be back in the driver’s seat.
  3. Jason Kidd, Milwaukee Bucks – It isn’t often that a Coach of the Year can be unearthed for a .500 team, but Jason Kidd is doing his best. Milwaukee is just 22-22 on the season, but that places the Bucks as the sixth seed in the East, and the team is soundly outplaying expectations. Kidd deserves recognition for turning around the team with the worst record in the NBA last season, but above and beyond that, Milwaukee is remaining afloat without the number two overall pick in the draft in Jabari Parker. Players like Brandon Knight can point to Jason Kidd as a reason for their improved play, and after a rocky start to his coaching career in Brooklyn, the Hall of Fame point guard is now a rising star in the profession.

Next: Most Improved Player

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