The NBA will announce the Coach of the Year award winner on Monday, the league’s PR department tweets.
Kenny Atkinson (Cavaliers), J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons) and Ime Udoka (Rockets) are the three finalists. Atkinson, who led Cleveland to the best record in the East, is considered a heavy favorite to win the award.
The Executive of the Year award will be announced on Tuesday and the Social Justice Champion will be revealed on Wednesday.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Not surprisingly, the Thunder are ranked No. 1 in the league in terms of draft assets by ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Jeremy Woo. They could potentially have three first-rounders in this year’s draft. They have six extra first rounders in future years, plus swap rights to three years. They also own 17 future second-rounders. The Nets, Jazz, Rockets and Hornets round out the top five.
- Evan Fournier commented on his disappointing experience with the Knicks in an interview with Donatas Urbonas of Basketnews.com. Access to the story required a subscription. Fournier played 2 1/2 seasons in New York and finished last season with the Pistons. He’s currently playing for Olympiacos in the EuroLeague.
- “Roundball Rock” is back. NBC will bring back the sports theme song next season when the network begins its 11-year media rights deal to air NBA games. Music composer and radio and TV personality John Tesh wrote “Roundball Rock,” which became popular during NBC’s coverage of the league from 1990- 2002, according to Jenna West of The Athletic.