Steve Kerr Leads NBA Coaching Payroll, Spoelstra and Lue Close Behind
SLUG: kerr-leads-nba-coaching-payroll
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr holds the NBA’s top coaching paycheck, averaging $17.5 million per season, according to data published by Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen on December 10 2025.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue share second place at $15 million annually. While Kerr’s current contract ends after the 2025-26 campaign, Spoelstra secured an eight-year extension in 2024 and Lue agreed to a five-year deal the same year, guaranteeing them more money over the long term.
A quartet of coaches follow at approximately $11 million per season: Doc Rivers (Milwaukee Bucks), Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets), Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics) and Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers).
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown is the only other bench boss earning at least $10 million per year. Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd receives about $9.5 million, and Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick earns roughly $9 million.
Despite being the league’s third-longest-tenured coach, Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls does not appear among the top-ten salaries. Badenhausen reports that the lower end of permanent head-coaching contracts sits near $4 million annually. Interim coaches such as James Borrego in New Orleans and Tiago Splitter in Portland are not included in those figures.
The NBA projects the average player salary for the 2025-26 season at $13.87 million, meaning only three of the league’s 30 head coaches will out-earn the average player.
Source: Hoops Rumors
