NBA Coaches Salaries: Highest & Lowest Paid Coaches in the League

Below you’ll find the estimated average yearly salaries for most of the head coaches in the NBA. Teams rarely disclose the exact amount that they pay their coaches, but sometimes they do make the base salary figure available. We’ve compiled as many as we could find, listed in order of highest to lowest paid.

Sources range from team releases themselves to reports on Twitter (from respected journalists only), however, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.

Gregg Popovich is currently the highest paid coach in the league, but keep in mind that he is technically both the head coach and president of the Spurs, so his salary considers his duties for both positions. With the success Pop has had in San Antonio, he deserves every penny.

At this time we are unable to locate approximate salaries for Nate McMillan (Pacers), Earl Watson (Suns), Mike Malone (Nuggets), and Quin Snyder (Jazz).

List of NBA Head Coach Salaries from Highest to Lowest Paid

Head Coach Team Approx. Salary Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs $11,000,000 Doc Rivers Los Angeles Clippers $10,000,000 Tom Thibodeaux Minnesota Timberwolves $10,000,000 Rick Carlisle Dallas Mavericks $7,000,000 Stan Van Gundy Detroit Pistons $7,000,000 Scott Brooks Washington Wizards $7,000,000 Billy Donovan Oklahoma City Thunder $6,000,000 Jason Kidd Milwaukee Bucks $6,000,000 Dwane Casey Toronto Raptors $6,000,000 Frank Vogel Orlando Magic $5,500,000 Fred Hoiberg Chicago Bulls $5,000,000 Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors $5,000,000 Jeff Hornacek New York Knicks $5,000,000 Terry Stotts Portland Trail Blazers $5,000,000 Luke Walton Los Angeles Lakers $5,000,000 Dave Joerger Sacramento Kings $4,000,000 Mike D’Antoni Houston Rockets $4,000,000 Brad Stevens Boston Celtics $3,666,667 Alvin Gentry New Orleans Pelicans $3,437,500 Tyronn Lue Cleveland Cavaliers $3,000,000 Erik Spoelstra Miami Heat $3,000,000 David Fizdale Memphis Grizzlies $2,550,000 Kenny Atkinson Brooklyn Nets $2,500,000 Mike Budenholzer Atlanta Hawks $2,000,000 Steve Clifford Charlotte Hornets $2,000,000 Brett Brown Philadelphia 76ers $2,000,000 Nate McMillan Indiana Pacers Earl Watson Phoenix Suns Mike Malone Denver Nuggets Quin Snyder Utah Jazz

Even Average and Low End NBA Head Coaches Make Out Better Than Most

Looking at the list above there are some surprises. Detroit is paying Van Gundy top money but he hasn’t returned the results they are looking for. Big money lured Fred Hoiberg away from Iowa State and yet that franchise has gone from contender to not even making the playoffs.

Steve Kerr looks like a solid deal, and I also like the job Erik Spoelstra and Brad Stevens have done on the bread crumbs their franchise has given them. I’d expect those three to command major pay raises when it comes time to talk extension.

Even an average head coach is doing alright. The median stands at around $3.5 million per season. The lowest paid head coach pulls in $2 million. Not bad when you play 82 games a year. That’s about $25,000 per game.

Check out coaches in other sports: