The City Thunder has solidified its commitment to head coach Mark Daigneault by signing him to a multi-year contract extension. The move comes after Daigneault’s impressive performance in his first three seasons with the team, which saw significant growth and development despite the Thunder being in a rebuilding phase.
Daigneault’s coaching journey with the Thunder began as an assistant coach in the 2015-16 NBA season, reuniting with head coach Billy Donovan. In November 2020, he was named the fourth head coach in Thunder history and quickly proved himself as a rising star in the coaching ranks.
During his tenure, Daigneault led the youngest team in NBA history to multiple 15-plus point comeback wins and improved the team’s defensive rating significantly. In the 2022-23 season, the Thunder’s 40-42 record marked a remarkable 16-win improvement from the previous year, earning them a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.
Daigneault’s coaching prowess and the team’s progress garnered attention, leading to his nomination for the NBA Coach of the Year Award. While he finished second in voting, the contract extension signals the Thunder’s confidence in his ability to guide the team to even greater success in the future.
