Steve Nash a Heavy Favorite in Opening 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year Odds

• Brooklyn Nets rookie head coach Steve Nash favorite for 2021 NBA Coach of the Year
• Ty Lue, Doc Rivers and Stan Van Gundy start in new destinations this season
• Find out below who we think is the best bet to win this award

Just tack on another lofty expectation on the Brooklyn Nets for the coming season.

Oddsmakers have pegged rookie head coach Steve Nash — the iconic basketball Hall-of-Famer but zero coaching experience at any level Steve Nash — as the overwhelming favorite to win NBA Coach of the Year.

2021 NBA Coach of the Year Odds

Odds taken on December 2

Can the Canadian navigate through a new job with a pair of the NBA’s most enigmatic superstars and come out aces on the other side? Let’s explore the options and find you the best bet.

High Risk And High Reward

If there was ever a former player who just oozed the knowledge and patience to be a head coach, Nash would be the candidate. The back-to-back MVP ushered in a new and exciting era of hoops as the modern-day architect of the pick-and-roll. He was smart to pull in ex head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Jacque Vaughn to his coaching staff, who can help with the day-to-day grind of being a bench boss.

Steve Nash says Jacque Vaughn will lead the Nets defense and Mike D'Antoni will lead Brooklyn's offense.

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) December 1, 2020

Nash is inheriting two of the most dynamic players in the league in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and both have major obstacles to overcome. KD has not played since Game 5 of the NBA Finals in 2019 when he ruptured his Achilles. If that seems like ages ago, it was, courtesy the COVID-lengthened 2020 season.

The rust will be there — we’ll see how long before Durant shakes it to be back to his dominant self.

Kevin Durant plays for the Brooklyn Nets in 13 days.pic.twitter.com/YATyj4gwiF

— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) November 30, 2020

Irving was also shut down this year with a shoulder injury, but he’s got more to do with rehabbing his image than his game. Since establishing himself as one of the clutch scorers in the league while winning a title in Cleveland, Irving’s attitude caused an ugly breakup in Boston.

Nets coach Steve Nash says Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both in "great states of help" as well as "healthy and in shape."

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) December 1, 2020

His lone Brooklyn season has already caused tension when he basically said he and KD needed more help than the current roster. He also took a veiled jab at his new coach this offseason when he said he, Durant or Nash could all be considered the head coach.

How Nash gets the most of those two will determine not only his coaching fate, but how far Brooklyn goes in a tough Eastern Conference.

Check The Other Newbies

Only once in the last decade has someone claimed NBA Coach of the Year with a winning percentage under .670 (if you’re scoring at home, that’s 55 wins in a regular 82-game season).

So we should be seeking coaches that can lift their teams from good to title-caliber.

Some Clippers had an issue with Kawhi and PG’s preferential treatment, per @jovanbuha

– Kawhi and PG seemingly could pick and choose when they played

– They both were the only players with personal security and trainers pic.twitter.com/YEGFKBVeGO

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 2, 2020

How about the Clippers? That team needs a good soul-searching, and Ty Lue might be the guy to do it. Remember, he once stepped in for David Blatt in the middle of a first-place Cavs season, and guided them to an NBA title. Perhaps finding a smoother offense than Doc Rivers’ stagnant iso sets might give Kawhi Leonard and Paul George a little more structure, and easy looks.

Speaking of Rivers, he’ll get the chance to unlock the Joel Embiid-Ben Simmons puzzle that Brett Brown could never figure out in Philly. Doc will have the talent, and if he can tighten up the defense and find a smoother offense (I know what I just said!), the 76ers could be dangerous.

Shooting Stars Can Carry Them

Three other coaches you should consider on the strength of their budding stars.

Stan Van Gundy gets to take all that booth knowledge back to the sidelines and turn Zion Williamson into the legit face of NBA Next (not just a video game hype cover).

Zion on Stan Van Gundy becoming Pelicans head coach pic.twitter.com/4dE6xJGxeT

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 2, 2020

We already know Luka Doncic is MVP material, and if his third year peaks greater than his previous two, Rick Carlisle would be Johnny on the Spot. And don’t forget Monty Williams in Phoenix. Devin Booker is not-so-quietly considered the star to watch among NBA players, and now playing with Chris Paul could put the Suns back in the playoff picture. A 4-seed could be enough for Williams to take the honors.

.@dallasmavs Head Coach Rick Carlisle on @luka7doncic: “…he’s a special player, he’s a special person, he’s a special leader on our team…” #RealTalkSports #DallasMavericks #MFFL #LukaDoncic #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/XCrFLGdPVe

— V A L E N C I A (@IAmValenciaKing) December 1, 2020

What’s The Best Bet?

I think Nash is going to be an outstanding coach, but I don’t think he’s jumping into the best situation. KD will need to get up to speed and Kyrie is a wild card in a suddenly-solid East. Miami, Boston and Toronto boast continuity, Milwaukee features the two-time MVP in Giannis, and Philly could be there too.

The value for me lurks in that mid-tier, where Lue, Carlisle, Rivers, Van Gundy and Williams reside. Let’s also remember that this is waaaaaayyyy early. While we have an idea of the NBA Championship odds, we’re flying blind on COY. So when in doubt, go with the coach with the best player. Just not Frank Vogel. Only a single James coach has won this award, and that was Mike Brown in 2009.

The pick: Carlisle (+1400)