Earlier this summer, I examined coaching salaries.
With the caveat not all data is publicly available and some sources are better than others, Gregg Popovich topped the list at $8 million per year.
But the Spurs coach has already lost his place.
Doc Rivers, whose new contract with the Clippers was announced today, is the new No. 1.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Clippers president and coach Doc Rivers' extension will be worth more than $50 million over five years, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2014
Rivers is definitely feeling the Steve Ballmer love. Though I rate him the third-best coach in the league behind Popovich and Tom Thibodeau, Rivers had a little leverage based on the threat of him leaving in the wake of the Donald Sterling saga.
Good for Rivers for drawing such a big contract. Yes, he also holds a front-office title, but so does Popovich. The Clippers are still paying Rivers a lot for whatever he does.
Here’s a prediction, though: Unless it’s renegotiated, Rivers’ salary won’t even rank in the NBA’s top three by the time this contract expires.
As the Collective Bargaining Agreement makes it more difficult to add player salary – the Clippers, for example, are butting against the hard cap – teams rich with revenue are looking for other edges. Coaching is one way, so there’s a premium on top coaches – coaches like Rivers.
