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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.
