Steve Kerr Tops NBA Coach Salaries at $17M

Steve Kerr leads Sportico's list of highest paid NBA coaches at 17 million a year, with Erik Spoelstra and Tyronn Lue tied at 15 million. The top ten also includes Doc Rivers, Ime Udoka, Joe Mazzulla, Rick Carlisle, Mike Brown, Jason Kidd and JJ Redick. Kerr's run of Finals trips and four titles explains the payday, even as the Warriors sit 13 to 12 this season. Ime Udoka is the only top earner without a championship while his Rockets are 15 to 6. Merlin sees championships as the currency that buys coaches job security and huge contracts. Kerr's résumé still casts a long spell, but big paychecks do not cure on court problems. If Udoka can shepherd Houston deep with Kevin Durant, his value will rise fast. The Western Conference will be the proving ground.