The best NBA coaches of all time have earned the respect of their peers, players, and fans throughout their careers. And the best coaches have transformed average teams into champions on multiple occasions. To become an all-time great in this role requires a passion for the sport, attention to detail, and a willingness to make tough decisions with little regard for personal feelings or egos. Here is a look at their top 10 list of best NBA coaches:
10. John Kundla
Kundla is the only coach who has won championships with two different teams. In 1948, Kundla directed the Minneapolis Lakers to an NBA title and won one more championship in 1953.
Those two accomplishments stand out among other impressive distinctions for the former coach. He ranked fifth in career winning percentage (.625), led Minnesota to six division championships, and guided the team to three conference titles.
Kundla became the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Warriors, who made their way back into an NBA Finals appearance during his tenure with them.
He is also the youngest coach in the NBA, winning his first championship at 31. Kundla coached several halls of Famers, including George Mikan, Maurice Stokes, and Arnie Risen
9. Red Hozman
Red Holzman is one of the greatest coaches ever in the NBA. He led the New York Knicks to two championships and held a record of 696 wins and 604 losses during his 16-year coaching career. Even more impressive is that he only coached three teams, not including the Knicks, but he never had a losing season.
It’s no wonder why Red won the Coach of The Year Award in 1970 with the Knicks as he led them to win 68 games than lose only twelve games during their regular season campaign, which also saw them earn home court advantage for the playoffs.
8. Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudy Tomjanovich is considered one of the best coaches of all time. Starting his career as a player in 1970, he earned a 13-year career playing for the Lakers and Rockets. After retiring from playing, Tomjanovich became the head coach of the Rockets in 1994. He led that team to many playoff appearances and championships, including a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics with the USA Men’s Basketball team.
He coached Houston Rockets by winning NBA championships and five All-Star games. On July 27, 2012, he retired due to medical reasons after discovering his cancer.
7. Chuck Daly
Chuck Daly was known for his calm demeanor and attention to detail throughout his 14-year career as head coach. Often referred to as ‘the best by his peers, Daly led the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back wins during the 80s, a feat that had never been done before or since. He then coached the Dream Team in 1992, leading elite stars such as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson to an Olympic gold medal at Barcelona. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994.
He won two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons and two Coach of the Year Awards (1981, 1984).
6. Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens is one of the most respected coaches in basketball history. The all-time leader in wins for head coaches, he coached for 32 seasons, led the Sonics to two NBA Finals appearances, and won Coach of the Year in 1993-1994.
He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, appeared on the All-NBA First Team 10 times, and won 7 NBA championships as an individual player with time spent on five franchises.
His longevity as a coach is on par with John Wooden, who has been an assistant or head coach for 64 years.
5. Larry Brown
Larry Brown led the Kansas Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA title, an upset over mighty and dominant Indiana in a game still considered one of the most exciting ever. He then went on to coach at North Carolina State and Kansas again before getting drafted by the San Antonio Spurs/
This is where he won his only title with a team that included David Robinson, Sean Elliot, Terry Cummings, and Avery Johnson. After that, Larry Brown coached for eight different teams and won 53% of all games played in his coaching career, including 90% at Kansas.
4. Pat Riley
Pat Riley may not have lasted long as head coach of the Knicks, but he has a place at the top of most lists of the greatest coaches in the history of the NBA. A five-time National Basketball Association champion and three-time Coach of the Year Award winner, Riley got his start as an assistant under Jerry West with the Los Angeles Lakers before taking over as head coach in 1981.
The four-time NBA champion with the “Showtime” Lakers ranks second all-time in playoff wins (171) and owns three NBA Coach of the Year Awards. His common sayings, “Take it one game at a time.” and “There are only three things that can happen: You win, you lose, or you win,” have helped him become one of the game’s most respected leaders.
3. Gregg Popovich
Popovich’s coaching style has been credited to several factors. In addition to his ability to get the most out of his teams, his quiet nature has been a sign of respect for his players and other coaches. His coaching style has been described as demanding, confident, calm, and collected. Perseverance is also a quality Popovich looks for in players, as he believes that “professionalism means doing things right even when you don’t feel like doing them.”
During his time with the San Antonio Spurs, he has won four championships and 633 games, with just 305 losses. He has won 11 consecutive seasons with a winning percentage of .646 or better.
2. Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach was an American basketball coach, team executive, and owner. He was the only person selected as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in their respective roles as a player and coach.
Auerbach began his career with the Washington Capitols in 1946 and won nine NBA Championships with them during his tenure with the club (including three NBA Finals from 1959 through 1966). He then moved on to become coach and VP or general manager for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1968, where he won another eight championships.
1. Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson is a coach who has won more championships than any other coach in NBA history. He has coached the legendary Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. He has had some of the greatest basketball players on his teams, including Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Scottie Pippen.
Phil Jackson is one of our top NBA coaches of all time because he has an amazing record of 980-418 and has had four of the greatest players in Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, and Kobe.
Jackson coached three different franchises to 8 straight playoff appearances, something that no other coach has ever managed to do before or since.
The ten best NBA coaches of all time, in order. The game of basketball is only as good as the coach who leads the team onto the court. Great coaches will always be remembered for their contributions to basketball, whether it’s on the court or off it.
