Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer is favored to win the Coach of the Year award, based on the latest odds by BetOnline.ag.
Budenholzer is one of the top three finalists for the coaching honor. Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and Los Angeles Clippers tactician Doc Rivers are also in the running for the prestigious annual award.
The 49-year-old Bucks coach is at odds of -1200 to win the 2019 Coach of the Year. Malone and Rivers, on the other hand, are at +700 and +1000 respectively.
Budenholzer guided the Bucks to the best record in the NBA. They finished the 2018-19 campaign as the only team with 60 wins, ending the regular season with a 60-22 record.
Under Budenholzer, superstar forward Giannis Antetetokounmpo also elevated his game and became an MVP-caliber player. The Greek Freak is currently the frontrunner to win the 2019 MVP against the likes of James Harden and Paul George.
Sure enough, Malone and Rivers make compelling cases. The Nuggets finished as the second seed in the ultra-tough Western Conference under Malone — all after a year that they missed the postseason. Meanwhile, Rivers led his Clippers to an unlikely playoff appearance despite the absence of a superstar.
However, it's really hard to put their work above or in the same level as Budenholzer, especially with the Bucks likely contending for an NBA title this year.