Toronto Raptors head coach Dwayne Casey was recently awarded the NBCA's Coach of the Year following his team's first-place finish in the Eastern Conference. Among the notable coaches not to receive any votes was New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry.
However, Gentry is certainly not bitter about being snubbed in the votes. In fact, he is glad to be mentioned given what has happened to the recipients in year's past, via Pelicans Twitter:
“Have you seen what has happened to Coach of the Years in this league? I am happy right where I am”
Needless to say, there is plenty of truth to Gentry's comments. More often than not, coaches who have won the award have not lasted very long with their teams afterward. The most recent example being Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer, who has now parted ways with the team just after being honored in 2015.
Of course, there are a few exceptions, such as San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. However, they make up a small portion of coaches who have achieved success after winning COY. In fact, outside of Popovich, Kerr, and Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni, every other coach that has been awarded over the past decade is either out of a job or in the hot seat with their new teams.
That said, it makes plenty of sense why Gentry would want to avoid anything that could cost him his future job. Even if it is a little bit superstitious.
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