15 Greatest Coaches
15 Greatest Coaches
The NBA unveiled the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA history as part of the continuing celebration of the league’s 75th Anniversary Season. The list was selected by a panel of 43 current & former NBA head coaches in collaboration with the National Basketball Coaches Association.
Click on the names below to jump to view a coach's resume.
Red Auerbach | Larry Brown | Chuck Daly | Red Holzman | Phil Jackson | K.C. Jones | Steve Kerr | Don Nelson | Gregg Popovich | Jack Ramsay | Pat Riley | Doc Rivers | Jerry Sloan | Erik Spoelstra | Lenny Wilkens
Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach
NBA Seasons Coached: 20
Regular-Season Record: 938-479 (.662)
NBA Championships: 9
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 1
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 1969
- Guided the Boston Celtics to nine NBA championships (1956-57 and 1958-59 – 1965-66).
- Ranks second in career NBA championships, behind Phil Jackson (11).
- Won a record eight consecutive NBA championships (1958-59 – 1965-66).
- Ranks 12th on the all-time wins list in the regular season and fifth in the playoffs (99).
- Retired in 1966 as the winningest head coach in NBA history and held the record until 1995.
- Has the fifth-highest winning percentage in the regular season (min. 400 games).
- Named the 1964-65 NBA Coach of the Year – his second-to-last season as a head coach and the third season of the award.
- Worked as a head coach in each of the NBA’s first 20 seasons.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game a record 11 times.
- NBA Coach of the Year Award trophy is named in his honor.
Larry Brown
Larry Brown
Regular-Season Record: 1,098-904 (.548)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 1
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 2002
Ranks eighth on the all-time wins list in the regular season and fourth in the playoffs (100).
- Tied for fourth place in seasons coached and ranks sixth in regular-season games coached (2,002).
- Coached an NBA-record eight different franchises to the playoffs: Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets), San Antonio Spurs, LA Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets).
- Guided Detroit to the NBA championship in 2003-04.
- Reached the NBA Finals with Philadelphia in 2000-01 and Detroit in 2004-05.
- Named the 2000-01 NBA Coach of the Year with the 76ers.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game twice.
- Received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association in 2021.
Chuck Daly
Chuck Daly
NBA Seasons Coached: 14
Regular-Season Record: 638-437 (.593)
NBA Championships: 2
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 1994
- Guided the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA titles (1988-89, 1989-90).
- Ranks 25th on the all-time wins list in the regular season and tied for 14th in the playoffs (75).
- Has the 12th-highest regular-season winning percentage (min. 400 games).
- Recorded a .595 winning percentage in the playoffs (75-51).
- Qualified for the playoffs in 12 of his 13 full seasons as an NBA head coach.
- Posted a 467-271 record (.633) in nine seasons with Detroit – the winningest head coach in franchise history.
- Led the Pistons to five straight seasons of at least 50 victories from 1986-87 – 1990-91.
- Coached Detroit to the NBA Finals in 1987-88, the first of three appearances in a row.
- National Basketball Coaches Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award is named in his honor.
Red Holzman
Red Holzman
NBA Seasons Coached: 18
Regular-Season Record: 696-603 (.536)
NBA Championships: 2
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 1
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 1986
- Ranks 20th on the all-time wins list in the regular season and 19th in the playoffs (58).
- Retired in 1982 as the second-winningest head coach in NBA history.
- Guided the New York Knicks to two NBA championships (1969-70, 1972-73).
- Led New York to a 613-483 record (.559) in 14 seasons – the winningest head coach in franchise history.
- Coached the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1971-72.
- Named the 1969-70 NBA Coach of the Year – the first winner of the award in Knicks history.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game twice.
Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson
NBA Seasons Coached: 20
Regular-Season Record: 1,155-485 (.704)
NBA Championships: 11
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 1
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 2007
- Holds the record for most NBA championships as a head coach.
- Won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98) and five with the Los Angeles Lakers (1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2008-09 and 2009-10).
- Has the most career playoff victories (229).
- Ranks seventh on the all-time regular-season wins list.
- Owns the highest winning percentage in the regular season (min. 400 games) and second-highest winning percentage in the playoffs at .688 (min. 25 games).
- Won three consecutive NBA championships twice with the Bulls and once with the Lakers.
- Named NBA Coach of the Year for 1995-96 after leading the Bulls to a then-record 72 wins.
- Worked as a head coach in the NBA Finals a record 13 times.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game four times.
K.C. Jones
K.C. Jones
NBA Seasons Coached: 10
Regular-Season Record: 522-252 (.674)
NBA Championships: 2
- Has the fourth-highest regular-season winning percentage (min. 400 games)
Guided the Boston Celtics to two NBA championships (1983-84 and 1985-86). - Led the Celtics to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances (1983-84 – 1986-87).
- Posted a winning percentage of .751 (308-102) in five seasons as Boston’s head coach.
- Coached the Washington Bullets (now Washington Wizards) to NBA Finals in 1974-75.
- Ranks ninth on the all-time playoff wins list (81).
- Compiled a record of .500 or better in every season as an NBA head coach.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game five times.
- Co-recipient (with Jerry Sloan) of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association in 2016.
- Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player (1989).
Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
NBA Seasons Coached: 8
Regular-Season Record: 417-184 (.694)
NBA Championships: 3
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 1
- Guided the Golden State Warriors to three NBA championships in his first four seasons as a head coach (2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18).
- Stands as one of six head coaches to win three or more NBA championships.
- Led Golden State to five consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2014-15 – 2018-19), the second-longest streak in league history.
- Has the highest playoff winning percentage in NBA history (min. 25 games) at .733 (77-28).
- Ranks third in career regular-season winning percentage (min. 400 games).
- Joined assistant coach/interim head coach Luke Walton in leading the Warriors to an NBA-record 73 wins in 2015-16.
- Named NBA Coach of the Year for 2015-16.
- Coached the Warriors to NBA records for the most playoff victories in a row (15) and the best single-season playoff winning percentage (.941; 16-1 record), both in the 2016-17 season.
- Has served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game twice.
Don Nelson
Don Nelson
NBA Seasons Coached: 31
Regular-Season Record: 1,335-1,063 (.557)
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 3
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 2012
- Has the most regular-season victories in NBA history.
- Surpassed Lenny Wilkens on April 7, 2010, as the winningest head coach in NBA history.
- Ranks second in seasons coached and regular-season games coached (2,398).
- Named NBA Coach of the Year for 1982-83, 1984-85 and 1991-92.
- Shares the NBA record for most Coach of the Year awards (along with Pat Riley and Gregg Popovich).
- Won at least 300 games with three different franchises: Milwaukee Bucks (540), Golden State Warriors (422) and Dallas Mavericks (339).
- Recorded 13 seasons with 50 or more wins, including two with 60 victories.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game twice.
Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich
NBA Seasons Coached: 26
Regular-Season Record: 1,330-687 (.661)
NBA Championships: 5
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 3
- Ranks third on the all-time wins list in both the regular season and playoffs (170).
- Has the most combined victories across the regular season and playoffs (1,496).
- Guided the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA championships: 1998-99, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2006-07 and 2013-14.
- Tied for the third-most NBA championships (along with John Kundla and Pat Riley).
- Named NBA Coach of the Year for 2002-03, 2011-12 and 2013-14.
- Shares the NBA record for most Coach of the Year awards (along with Don Nelson and Pat Riley).
- Has coached San Antonio for 26 seasons, the longest tenure with one franchise in NBA history.
- Ranks sixth in career regular-season winning percentage (min. 400 games).
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game four times.
Jack Ramsay
Jack Ramsay
NBA Seasons Coached: 21
Regular-Season Record: 864-783 (.525)
NBA Championships: 1
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 1992
- Ranks 14th on the all-time regular-season wins list.
- Retired as the second-winningest coach in NBA history.
- Led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA championship in 1976-77.
- Coached four different franchises to the playoffs: Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, Buffalo Braves (now LA Clippers) and Indiana Pacers.
- Guided Portland to the playoffs in nine of his 10 seasons as its head coach.
- Winningest head coach in Trail Blazers history (453 regular-season victories).
- Led Buffalo to the first three playoff berths in franchise history.
- Named co-recipient (along with Tex Winter) of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association in 2010.
Pat Riley
Pat Riley
NBA Seasons Coached: 24
Regular-Season Record: 1,210-694 (.636)
NBA Championships: 5
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 3
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 2008
- Ranks fifth on the all-time wins list in the regular season and second in the playoffs (171).
- Led the Los Angeles Lakers to four NBA championships (1981-82, 1984-85, 1986-87 and 1987-88) and the Miami Heat to one (2005-06).
- Tied for the third-most NBA championships (along with John Kundla and Gregg Popovich).
- Named NBA Coach of the Year for 1989-90, 1992-93 and 1996-97.
- Shares the NBA record for most Coach of the Year awards (along with Don Nelson and Gregg Popovich).
- Only head coach to be selected as NBA Coach of the Year with three different franchises (Lakers, Heat and New York Knicks).
- Has the seventh-highest winning percentage in the regular season (min. 400 games).
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game nine times.
- Received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association in 2012.
Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
NBA Seasons Coached: 22
Regular-Season Record: 1,024-725 (.585)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 1
- Ranks 10th on the all-time wins list in the regular season and tied for sixth in the playoffs (98).
- Led the Boston Celtics to the 2007-08 NBA championship.
- Guided Boston to the NBA Finals in 2009-10.
- Ranks 11th in regular-season games coached (1,749).
- Has coached four different franchises to the playoffs: Celtics, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.
- Named NBA Coach of the Year for 1999-2000 with Orlando – his first season as an NBA head coach.
- Winningest head coach in Clippers history (356 regular-season victories).
- Qualified for the playoffs in 17 of his previous 22 seasons as an NBA head coach.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game three times.
Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
NBA Seasons Coached: 26
Regular-Season Record: 1,221-803 (.603)
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 2009
- Ranks fourth on the all-time regular-season wins list.
- Has the sixth-most victories in the playoffs (98).
- Served as head coach of the Utah Jazz for 23 seasons, the second-longest tenure with a team in NBA history.
- Coached in the fourth-most games in both the regular season (2,024) and playoffs (202).
- Guided the Jazz to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 1996-97 and 1997-98.
- Led Utah to 15 straight playoff appearances from 1988-89 – 2002-03.
- First head coach to win 1,000 regular-season games with one team.
- Recorded three seasons with 60 or more wins and 13 seasons with 50 or more wins.
- Named co-recipient (with K.C. Jones) of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association in 2016.
Erik Spoelstra
Erik Spoelstra
NBA Seasons Coached: 14
Regular-Season Record: 642-444 (.591)
NBA Championships: 2
- Guided the Miami Heat to back-to-back NBA championships in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
- Ranks 24th on the all-time wins list in the regular season and eighth in the playoffs (85).
- Led Miami to five NBA Finals appearances and 10 playoff berths in the previous 13 seasons.
- Coached the Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances (2010-11 – 2013-14), one of five head coaches to reach four Finals in a row.
- Has served as Miami’s head coach for 14 seasons, tied for the fourth-longest tenure with a franchise in NBA history.
One of nine head coaches to win an NBA championship in consecutive seasons. - Winningest head coach in Heat history (642 regular-season victories).
- Set to serve as a head coach in the NBA All- Star Game for the second time.
Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens
NBA Seasons Coached: 32
Regular-Season Record: 1,332-1,155 (.536)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Coach of the Year Awards: 1
Basketball Hall of Fame Class: 1998 ( Coach)
- Ranks second on the all-time regular-season wins list.
Holds NBA records for seasons coached and regular-season games coached (2,487). - Surpassed Red Auerbach on Jan. 6, 1995, as the winningest head coach in NBA history – a record that Wilkens held until 2010.
- First NBA head coach to win 1,000 regular-season games.
Guided the Seattle SuperSonics to the NBA championship in 1978-79. - Named the 1993-94 NBA Coach of the Year with the Atlanta Hawks.
- Served as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game four times.
- Received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association in 2011.
- Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach and a player (1989).
- Recently selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team as a player.