Who are the highest paid head coaches in the NBA in the 2024-25 season?
Only the top six coaches in the National Basketball Association, led by the Golden State Warriors and the Team USA coach, will earn eight figures per year.
Though the majority of attention in any sport is paid to the players who participate, we’ve seen time and time again the difference that having a visionary coach can make. Join us for a look at the top dogs and their salaries.
The highest-earning coaches in the NBA
Unlike players, what coaches in the NBA are paid is not often so easy to discover. That being said, there are some elite tacticians in the league, and their cases, the numbers are known, and to be fair, we can’t say they aren’t worth it. Based on Front Office Sports' list of highest-paid coaches in the United States from 2024, we’re bringing you those who work in the NBA. While these guys aren’t necessarily earning what their players do, they’re not making peanuts. Here we go!
#1 Steve Kerr - Golden State Warriors: $17.5 million
In recent years, the team to beat has been the Golden State Warriors. Having had a successful playing career alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls, Kerr has seemingly taken that appetite for titles to the Warriors. Since joining the franchise in 2014, Kerr has helped the team to four NBA championships and was named the Coach of the Year in 2016.
#2 Gregg Popovich - San Antonio Spurs: $16.0 million
If you’re an NBA fan, this one can’t surprise you. Coach ‘Pop’ is undoubtedly the most respected coach in the modern era of basketball and, quite frankly, has had a hand in the success of almost every other who’s come since. With five NBA titles, three Coach of the Year awards, and 22 consecutive playoff berths for the Spurs between 1998 and 2019, we think this one is well deserved. With a new contract extension signed this summer and with Wemby on the roster, we don’t see Pop getting in retirement any time soon.
#3 Erik Spoelstra - Miami Heat: $15 million
A two-time NBA champion in 2012 and 2013, Spoelstra started his career in the NBA as a video coordinator with the Miami Heat in 1995. He compiled clips for the coaching staff to help them map out upcoming opponents. From there, he would be promoted to head coach in 2008, and as we mentioned before, that turned out to be a success—for two straight years.
The Miami Heat have committed to head coach Erik Spoelstra for the long term by signing him to an eight-year, $120 million contract extension. This makes it the longest deal for a coach in North American sports history, showing the strong confidence and trust between the franchise and the coach.
#4 Tyronn Lue - Los Angeles Clippers: $14 million
Pistons head coach Tyronn Lue is ranked fourth and makes approximately $14 million annually. After due to a long-term extension, he signed in May.
Lue has signed that new deal that will extend through the 2028-2029 season. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank were eager to secure their coach on a new deal. A finalized agreement was reached after negotiations with his agent, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports.
Lue has proven himself to be one of the league’s most respected and sought-after coaches during his time with the Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers, where he won the 2016 NBA championship.
#5 Mike Budenholzer - Phoenix Suns: $10 million
The second on this list, Popovich, has tutored many coaches, and Budenholzer is one of them.
His first head coaching job Atlanta Hawks, where he would stay until 2018 when the Milwaukee Bucks.
It was there that Budenholzer would come into his own as he led Giannis and the Bucks to the franchise‘s second-ever NBA title in 2021. Since May, he’s been the new coach of the Phoenix Suns.
His CV also includes Coach of the Year awards in 2015 and 2019.