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NBA debates have become the fabric of sports society, yet what is rarely debated is who is the best NBA Head Coach of all-time? This era has given us iconic coaches, yet past generations have burned a path for not only for themselves, but for many others through their dedication, love of the game, and sheer responsibility with what they have been given to pass on. The NBA has had some great coaches represent the league over the years, so let's talk about them.
#5 Lenny Wilkens
When Lenny Wilkens entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996, he became one of three all-time to be inducted both as a player and as a coach. Tommy Heinsohn and Bill Russell are the other two in the NBA.
Lenny Wilkens was originally a player-coach, and coached the Supersonics from 1969–72, and the Trail Blazers from 1974–76. He won an NBA championship with Seattle in 1978-79 as a full-time coach. When he coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1986-93, the most unfortunate note about Lenny Wilkens' NBA coaching career was that he could never beat Michael Jordan in the playoffs despite having some pretty good Cleveland Cavaliers teams.
Wilkens also coached the Atlanta Hawks from 1993-2000, the Toronto Raptors from 2000-03, and the New York Knicks from 2004-05. He coached the USA to an Olympic gold medal in 1966.
#4 Pat Riley
Pat Riley won the Pacific Division title in all nine years he coached the Lakers - where he won three NBA championships, and was Coach of the Year three times as well. He went 1210-694 in 24 seasons beginning with the aforementioned Lakers. Riley also coached the New York Knicks from 1991-95, and the Miami Heat from 1995-2008. His battles vs. Michael Jordan coaching the New York Knicks were the definition of toughness and grit, and were a full departure from his Showtime Lakers. He won the 2006 NBA title with the Heat, and two other rings as an executive in Miami.
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#3 Gregg Popovich
The master of pace and space in the NBA, Gregg Popovich is 1310-653 in 25 seasons. He led the San Antonio Spurs on a 22 season playoff streak from 1998-2019, is a five-time NBA champion and is one of the more outspoken coaches on societal issues.
Popovich coached USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal in 2021. He's coached David Robinson and Tim Duncan to championship glory, as well as later on with Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili. His player development is a gift to the game of basketball and proven in how he has turned the NBA draft into a weapon - Tony Parker was drafted 28th, Manu Ginobili 57th and Kawhi Leonard 15th. Leonard was not known for being an offensive player coming out of San Diego State, yet has become one of the NBA's most feared players as well offensively.
Popovich is one of 5 NBA coaches to win five championships, and seemingly is one of the last of his kind.
#2 Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson won an NBA record 11 championships. He has coached the greatest players to ever play in the NBA - including the iconic trio of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
He is a four-time NBA Coach of the Year, and a four-time NBA All-Star Game Head Coach. His only Coach of the Year award came in 1996 when he guided the Chicago Bulls to a then-best record of 72-10 all-time. He and Tex Winter implemented the triangle offense into the NBA, and changed the league's trajectory utilizing the versatile skills of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as a focus within the offense. He coached the Bulls from 1989-98, and the Los Angeles Lakers for two stints: 1999-2004, and 2005-11.
Phil Jackson was known as the "zen master" for his off-the-court approach in coaching his players. His overall coaching record in the NBA is 1155-485 in 20 seasons.
#1 Red Auerbach
What isn't mentioned enough about Red Auerbach is how he and his Celtics are the biggest reason why Wilt Chamberlain didn't win every championship every year he played. He was a major NBA innovator who drafted the first Black player in the NBA (Chuck Cooper 1950), and hired the first Black player-coach (Bill Russell 1966). He was the father of the modern fast break offense. The Boston Celtics, under Red Auerbach's leadership for 16 years won nine titles - including eight straight from 1959-66. He also coached the Washington Capitols and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.
Guess the Lakers players!
