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Steve Kerr Tops NBA Coaching Pay at $17.5 Million, Sportico Finds

A new Sportico analysis shows elite NBA coach pay surging despite thin job security.

Overview

  • Sportico lists Steve Kerr as the highest-paid NBA head coach at a $17.5 million average annual value, with Erik Spoelstra and Tyronn Lue at $15 million.
  • Doc Rivers, Ime Udoka, Joe Mazzulla and Rick Carlisle each land in the $11 million per year range.
  • Mike Brown is at $10 million with the Knicks, Jason Kidd earns $9.5 million with the Mavericks and JJ Redick makes $9 million with the Lakers.
  • Nine head coaches now earn at least $10 million this season, the top 10 are projected at roughly $120 million combined in base pay, and the lower end of salaries is about $4 million.
  • Despite larger, largely guaranteed deals with playoff bonuses, turnover remains pronounced, highlighted by Michael Malone’s firing, and Kerr’s contract expires after 2025–26 while Spoelstra and Lue are on longer terms.