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An NBA coach has one of the hardest jobs on the team. When the players are on the court, the coach observes the game and develops winning strategies. No offense is complete without the head coach and the gameplan he draws up determines the fate of the game. The NBA has seen many legendary coaches over the years, some of these coaches have entered the Hall of Fame and their understanding of the game led to dominating dynasties. Phil Jackson was considered one of the most intimidating coaches in the game, yet he has the most titles as a coach.
Top 10 Most Winningest NBA Coaches of All Time
The coaches in this ranking have been considered after a sample size of 400 games coached. Let's take a look at the Top 10 NBA coaches of all time.
#10 Mike Brown
Win-Loss Record: 347-216 (.616)
This is the only NBA coach on this list without a championship as a head coach. Mike Brown is famous for coaching LeBron James during his early years and taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA Finals in 2007. He also coached Kobe Bryant during his stint with the LA Lakers and is currently an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.
He has been on lots of winning teams over the years and his experience coaching some of the league's superstars is invaluable. He won Coach of the Year in 2009 and is a three-time champion as an assistant coach.
#9 Tom Heinsohn
Win-Loss Record: 427-263 (.619)
Tom Heinsohn played for and coached just one team his entire career, the Boston Celtics. Heinsohn won eight rings as a player with the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics and won two more as an NBA coach. He is famous for leading the All-Star duo of Dave Cowens and John Havlicek to the Finals twice and defeating Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1974.
His No. 15 jersey is rightfully retired by the Celtics and he is one of the few players inducted into the Hall of Fame as both an NBA player and an NBA coach.
#8 Lester Harrison
Win-Loss Record: 295-191 (.620)
The Sacramento Kings once hailed from the city of Rochester, New York, and their only NBA championship is from 1951 as the Rochester Royals. Lester Harrison was the coach responsible for the championship and his entire seven-year coaching career was with the same team.
Harrison earned his place in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a major contributor to the sport in 1980.
#7 Pat Riley
Win-Loss Record: 1210-694 (.636)
One of the most legendary figures in the NBA, Pat Riley has nine championships to his name, either as a player, assistant, coach, or executive. He is the current President of the Miami Heat and is best remembered for his championships with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the LA Lakers.
Riley won four championships with the LA Lakers and one with the Miami Heat as an NBA coach. He led a young Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal to a historic Finals run against the Dallas Mavericks in 2006 and became the third team in NBA history to win a championship after trailing 0-2 in the series.
#6 Red Auerbach
Win-Loss Record: 938-419 (.662)
Legendary NBA coach Red Auerbach coached three teams in his career, the Washington Capitols, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, and the Boston Celtics. His major stint was with the Celtics where he won nine championships with Bill Russell, eight of them consecutively.
He is considered one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time and his coaching techniques led the Celtics to become one of the most dominant dynasties in NBA history. He entered the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach and is credited with inventing the concept of the "fast-break".
#5 KC Jones
Win-Loss Record: 522-252 (.674)
KC Jones has lots of rings to his name but is best known for his years with the Boston Celtics. He led the team to two championships in 1984 and 1986 and won eight as a player with the Bill Russell-led Celtics.
His No. 25 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989. Larry Bird won his three-consecutive NBA MVP awards under KC Jones.
#4 Gregg Popovich
Win-Loss Record: 1277-614 (.675)
San Antonio Spurs' legendary coach Gregg Popovich is responsible for all five of the Spurs' championships. He has spent his entire 24-year coaching career with the San Antonio Spurs and has made the playoffs 23 times.
He is famous for coaching Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili and for adjusting his approach to accomodate his players' strengths. Popovich has the third-most career wins by an NBA coach in history with 1277 and that number is still climbing.
#3 Billy Cunningham
Win-Loss Record: 454-196 (.698)
Billy Cunningham is responsible for the Philadelphia 76ers' last two NBA titles in 1967 and 1983. He coached Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Maurice Cheeks to a historic NBA Finals in 1983 against Pat Riley's LA Lakers featuring Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and swept them in four games. This is only one of two championships in the 1980s to not be won by either the Lakers or the Celtics.
Billy Cunningham spent his entire career as a player and NBA coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. He won a title as a player in 1967.
#2 Phil Jackson
Win-Loss Record: 1155-485 (.704)
Regarded by many as the greatest NBA coach in history, Phil Jackson is the one of most decorated people in the league. He has 13 titles to his name, out of which he earned 11 as a coach. Jackson's offensive strategies are often studied by savants and analysts as people still use his techniques to this day.
Phil Jackson coached two of the most notable figures in the NBA, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. One of the most astonishing facts about Phil Jackson is that he has had three 3-peats, two with the Chicago Bulls and one with the LA Lakers. Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and he won two more rings after that in 2009 and 2010.
#1 Steve Kerr
Win-Loss Record: 337-138 (.709)
Steve Kerr is one of the most revolutionary NBA coaches currently pacing the sidelines. Once he was selected as the coach of the Golden State Warriors, he led the franchise to five straight NBA Finals, winning three of them. Kerr also holds the record for the best regular season in NBA history with 73-9 in 2015-16.
He is credited with changing the game by coaching Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in one of the most offensively lethal systems ever. Kerr, Curry, and the Warriors have broken several NBA records and are still looking to win another NBA title. Kerr is also an NBA champion as a player with five rings.
Guess the Lakers players!
