Pages

▼

NBA Top 10 Coaches

     During the “NBA at 50/NBA’s 50th Anniversary” in the ’96-97 season, voters were asked to select the NBA Top 10 Coaches, without ranking them. The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA.

Abbreviation used:
C-won – Championship won
L-Lost
W- Win
Year - Denotes year of Basketball Hall of Fame induction

I arrange the top 10 coaches in alphabetical order
Coach
Description
Team(s)
coached
(years)
Coaching
record
W-L
C-won
won
as a
coach
Coach of
the year
award(s)
won
Year
Red Auerbach
Served 20 seasons as NBA head coach ... Coach of the Year for 1964-65 ... NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time team coach ... Selected as the "Greatest Coach in the History of the NBA" by the PBWAA in 1980 ... Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968.
Washington
Capitols
(1946–1949)

Tri-Cities
Blackhawks
(1949–1950)

Boston
Celtics
(1950–1965)
938–479
(.662)
1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
1965
1969
Chuck Daly
Guided Detroit Pistons to victories in 1989 and 1990 NBA Finals ... His teams posted winning records in 11 of 13 campaigns ... Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994.
Cleveland Cavaliers (1982)

Detroit Pistons (1983–1992)

New Jersey Nets
(1992–1994)

Orlando Magic
(1997–1999)
564–379
(.598)

638–437
(.593)
1989 1990
None
1994
Bill Fitch
22 seasons as NBA head coach with Cleveland, Boston, Houston, New Jersey, LA Clippers... Guided Boston Celtics to victory in 1981 NBA Finals ... Coach of the Year for 1975-76 and 1979-80.
Cleveland
Cavaliers
1970–1979)

Boston Celtics
(1979–1983)

Houston Rockets
(1983–1988)

New Jersey Nets
(1989–1992)

Los Angeles
Clippers
(1994–1998)
944–1106 (.460)
1981
1976
1980
----
Red Holzman
Served 18 seasons as NBA head coach ... Led Knicks to victory in 1970 and 1973 NBA Finals ... Coach of the Year for 1969-70 ... Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks (1954–1956)

New York Knicks (1967–1982)
696–604 (.535)
1970 1973
1970
1986
Phil Jackson
Enjoyed nine successful seasons as Chicago head coach (1989-98) ... Reached 400 wins in only 557 games, second-fastest to milestone in league history ... Guided the Chicago Bulls to NBA championships in 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 ... 1995-96 Coach of the Year.
Chicago Bulls (1989–1998)

Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2004, 2005–present)
414–160 (.721)

1098–460 (.705)
1991 1992 1993 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010
1996
2007
John Kundla
Coached Minneapolis to five NBA championships in six seasons from 1948-49 through 1953-54 ... Served 11 years as NBA head coach ... His 1949-50 Minneapolis team recorded fourth-best home winning percentage in NBA history (.868/30-1) ... Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1959)
423–302 (.583)
1949 1950 1952 1953 1954
None
1995
Don Nelson
Has served 20 years as NBA head coach with Milwaukee, Golden State, New York and Dallas ... Joins Pat Riley as the only coaches ever to be named Coach of the Year three times (1982-83, 1984-85 and 1991-92) ... His clubs have recorded nine 50-plus-win seasons and seven divisional championships.
Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1987)

New York Knicks (1995–1996)

Dallas Mavericks (1997–2005)

Golden State Warriors (1988–1995, 2006–present)
851–629 (.575)
1335–1063 (.557)
None
1983
1985
1992
----
Jack Ramsay
Served 20 years as NBA head coach ... Coached 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers to victory in NBA Finals ... Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Philadelphia 76ers (1968–1972)

Buffalo Braves (1972–1976)

Portland Trail Blazers (1976–1986)

Indiana Pacers (1986–1988)
864–783 (.525)
1977
None
1992
Pat Riley
Achieved 800th career win on Nov. 2, 1996, reaching the mark faster than any coach in league history ... Led four L.A. Lakers teams to victory in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 NBA Finals ... 1989-90, 1992-93 and 1996-97 Coach of the Year.
Los Angeles Lakers (1981–1990)

New York Knicks (1991–1995)

Miami Heat (1995–2003, 2005–2008)
798–339 (.702)

1210–694 (.636)
1982 1985 1987 1988 2006
1990
1993
1997
2008
Lenny Wilkens
1993-94 Coach of the Year ... Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990 ... Recently selected one of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Seattle SuperSonics (1969–1972, 1977–1985)

Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1976)

Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1993)

Atlanta Hawks (1993–2000)

Toronto Raptors (2000–2003)

New York Knicks (2004–2005)
1014–850 (.544)

1332–1155 (.536)
1979
1994
1998


NBA Related Topics
NBA News And Updates
NBA at 50 / NBA’s 50th Anniversary
NBA 50 Greatest Basketball Players
NBA Top 10 Teams

Updates And Trivia
Why Lebron James Wants To Change His Number



Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Greatest_Players_in_NBA_History
http://www.nba.com/history/top_10_coaches.html