List of NBA championship head coaches
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a major professional basketball league in North America. It was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[1] The league adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).[2] The league consists of 30 teams, of which 29 are located in the United States and one in Canada. In the NBA, a head coach is the highest ranking coach of a coaching staff. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than the assistant coaches.
Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson won eleven NBA championships, the most in NBA history. He won six titles with the Chicago Bulls and five titles with the Lakers, and is the only coach who has won multiple championships with more than one team. Red Auerbach won nine championships with the Boston Celtics and won eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966. John Kundla, Pat Riley, and current San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich have each won five championships. Kundla won all of his titles with the Lakers, and Popovich has won all of his titles with the Spurs, while Riley won four titles with the Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. Current Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has won three championships, while current Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has won two titles. Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle and Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse are the only other active coaches who have won a championship, Rivers having won while with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
Other achievements
- Of the championship head coaches, 14 (Auerbach, Larry Brown, Carlisle, Bill Fitch, Tom Heinsohn, Red Holzman, Jackson, Kerr, Dick Motta, Popovich, Riley, Rivers, Bill Sharman, and Lenny Wilkens) have won the Coach of the Year Award.
- 14 (Auerbach, Brown, Chuck Daly, Fitch, Alex Hannum, Heinsohn, Holzman, Jackson, Kundla, Jack Ramsay, Riley, Sharman, Rudy Tomjanovich and Wilkens) have been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach.[3]
- 14 (Jones, Russell, Heinsohn, Sharman, Jackson, Cunningham, Riley, Holzman, Costello, Senesky, Jeannette, Carlisle, Kerr, Lue) also won championships as players,[4] with both Buddy Jeannette and Bill Russell having won their only manager titles as player-coach.
- Riley, Lue and Paul Westhead are the only three coaches who have led teams to titles having only arrived in mid-season.[5][6]
Key
Yrs | Number of years coached |
GC | Games coached |
W | Wins |
L | Losses |
Win% | Winning percentage |
^ | Denotes coach who is currently coaching an NBA team |
* | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach |
*^ | Active NBA coach who has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
List
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2018–19 season.
Number won | Coach | Team(s) won with (years)[a] | Coaching career[b] | Yrs | GC | W | L | Win% | GC | W | L | Win% | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
11 | Phil Jackson* | Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) |
1989–1998, 1999–2004, 2005–2011 | 20 | 1,640 | 1,155 | 485 | .704 | 333 | 229 | 104 | .688 | [7] |
9 | Red Auerbach* | Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) | 1946–1966 | 20 | 1,417 | 938 | 479 | .662 | 168 | 99 | 69 | .589 | [8] |
5 | John Kundla* | Minneapolis Lakers (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) | 1948–1958, 1958–1959 | 11 | 725 | 423 | 302 | .583 | 95 | 60 | 35 | .632 | [9] |
5 | Pat Riley* | Los Angeles Lakers (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) Miami Heat (2006) |
1981–2003, 2005–2008 | 24 | 1,904 | 1,210 | 694 | .636 | 282 | 171 | 111 | .606 | [10] |
5 | Gregg Popovich^ | San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) | 1996–present | 23 | 1,820 | 1,245 | 575 | .684 | 284 | 170 | 114 | .599 | [11] |
3 | Steve Kerr^ | Golden State Warriors (2015, 2017, 2018) | 2014–present | 5 | 410 | 322 | 88 | .785 | 105 | 77 | 28 | .733 | [12] |
2 | Chuck Daly* | Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990) | 1981–1994, 1997–1999 | 14 | 1,075 | 638 | 437 | .593 | 126 | 75 | 51 | .595 | [13] |
2 | Alex Hannum* | St. Louis Hawks (1958) Philadelphia 76ers (1967) |
1956–1958, 1960–1968, 1969–1971 | 12 | 883 | 471 | 412 | .533 | 81 | 47 | 34 | .580 | [14] |
2 | Tom Heinsohn* | Boston Celtics (1974, 1976) | 1969–1978 | 9 | 690 | 427 | 263 | .619 | 80 | 47 | 33 | .588 | [15] |
2 | Red Holzman* | New York Knicks (1970, 1973) | 1954–1957, 1967–1977, 1978–1982 | 18 | 1,300 | 696 | 604 | .535 | 106 | 58 | 48 | .547 | [16] |
2 | K. C. Jones | Boston Celtics (1984, 1986) | 1974–1976, 1983–1988, 1990–1992 | 10 | 774 | 522 | 252 | .674 | 138 | 81 | 57 | .587 | [17] |
2 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics (1968, 1969) | 1966–1969, 1973–1977, 1987–1988 | 8 | 631 | 341 | 290 | .540 | 61 | 34 | 27 | .557 | [18] |
2 | Rudy Tomjanovich* | Houston Rockets (1994, 1995) | 1992–2003, 2004–2005 | 13 | 943 | 527 | 416 | .559 | 90 | 51 | 39 | .567 | [19] |
2 | Erik Spoelstra^ | Miami Heat (2012, 2013) | 2008–present | 11 | 886 | 523 | 363 | .590 | 118 | 71 | 47 | .602 | [20] |
1 | Al Attles* | Golden State Warriors (1975) | 1969–1983 | 14 | 1,075 | 557 | 518 | .518 | 61 | 31 | 30 | .508 | [21] |
1 | Larry Brown* | Detroit Pistons (2004) | 1976–1979, 1981–1983, 1988–2006, 2008–2010 | 27 | 2,002 | 1,098 | 904 | .548 | 193 | 100 | 93 | .518 | [22] |
1 | Rick Carlisle^ | Dallas Mavericks (2011) | 2001–2007, 2008–present | 17 | 1,378 | 751 | 627 | .545 | 120 | 58 | 62 | .483 | [23] |
1 | Al Cervi | Syracuse Nationals (1955) | 1949–1956, 1958–1959 | 9 | 567 | 326 | 241 | .575 | 60 | 34 | 26 | .567 | [24] |
1 | Larry Costello | Milwaukee Bucks (1971) | 1968–1976, 1978–1979 | 10 | 730 | 430 | 300 | .589 | 60 | 37 | 23 | .617 | [25] |
1 | Billy Cunningham | Philadelphia 76ers (1983) | 1977–1985 | 8 | 650 | 454 | 196 | .698 | 105 | 66 | 39 | .629 | [26] |
1 | Bill Fitch* | Boston Celtics (1981) | 1970–1988, 1989–1992, 1994–1998 | 25 | 2,050 | 944 | 1,106 | .460 | 109 | 55 | 54 | .505 | [27] |
1 | Edward Gottlieb | Philadelphia Warriors (1947) | 1946–1955 | 9 | 581 | 263 | 318 | .453 | 32 | 15 | 17 | .469 | [28] |
1 | Lester Harrison | Rochester Royals (1951) | 1948–1955 | 7 | 476 | 295 | 181 | .620 | 38 | 19 | 19 | .500 | [29] |
1 | Buddy Jeannette | Baltimore Bullets (1948) | 1947–1952, 1964–1966, 1966–1968 | 7 | 354 | 151 | 203 | .427 | 24 | 14 | 10 | .583 | [30] |
1 | Tyronn Lue | Cleveland Cavaliers (2016) | 2015—2019 | 4 | 211 | 128 | 83 | .607 | 61 | 41 | 20 | .672 | [31] |
1 | Dick Motta | Washington Bullets (1978) | 1968–1980, 1980–1987, 1990–1991, 1994–1997 | 25 | 1,952 | 935 | 1,017 | .479 | 126 | 56 | 70 | .444 | [32] |
1 | Nick Nurse^ | Toronto Raptors (2019) | 2018–present | 1 | 82 | 58 | 24 | .707 | 24 | 16 | 8 | .667 | [33] |
1 | Jack Ramsay* | Portland Trail Blazers (1977) | 1969–1972, 1973–1988 | 21 | 1,647 | 864 | 783 | .525 | 102 | 44 | 58 | .431 | [34] |
1 | Doc Rivers^ | Boston Celtics (2008) | 1999–2003, 2004–2013, 2013–present | 20 | 1,552 | 894 | 658 | .576 | 167 | 84 | 83 | .503 | [35] |
1 | George Senesky | Philadelphia Warriors (1956) | 1955–1958 | 3 | 216 | 119 | 97 | .551 | 20 | 10 | 10 | .500 | [36] |
1 | Bill Sharman* | Los Angeles Lakers (1972) | 1966–1968, 1971–1977 | 7 | 573 | 333 | 240 | .581 | 62 | 35 | 27 | .565 | [37] |
1 | Paul Westhead | Los Angeles Lakers (1980) | 1979–1981, 1982–1983, 1990–1992 | 6 | 407 | 183 | 224 | .450 | 19 | 13 | 6 | .684 | [38] |
1 | Lenny Wilkens* | Seattle SuperSonics (1979) | 1969–1972, 1974–1976, 1977–1985, 1986–2003, 2004–2005 | 32 | 2,487 | 1,332 | 1,155 | .536 | 178 | 80 | 98 | .449 | [39] |
Notes
- a Each year is linked to an article about the BAA/NBA Finals in that year.
- b Each year is linked to an article about that particular BAA/NBA season.
References
- General
- "NBA Coach Register". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- "All-Time Regular Season Victories-Coaches". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- "All-Time Playoffs: Coaches Won-Loss". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- Specific
- Goldaper, Sam. "The First Game". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- "1949–50 Season Overview: Powerful Lakers Repeat". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- "NBA Stars Who have Won Championships as Both Player and Coach". www.allaboutbasketball.us.
- "NBA coaches who have won NBA championships as players, too". Fox Sports. June 17, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- Vogel, Brandon (June 20, 2016). "Hot Reads: Tryonn". Hail Varsity. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- "Phil Jackson Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
- "Red Auerbach Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- "John Kundla Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- "Pat Riley Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- "Gregg Popovich Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- "Steve Kerr Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- "Chuck Daly Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- "Alex Hannum Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- "Tom Heinsohn Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- "Red Holzman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- "K. C. Jones Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- "Bill Russell Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- "Rudy Tomjanovich Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- "Erik Spoelstra Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- "Al Attles Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- "Larry Brown Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
- "Rick Carlisle Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- "Al Cervi Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- "Larry Costello Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- "Billy Cunningham Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- "Bill Fitch Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- "Edward Gottlieb Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- "Les Harrison Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
- "Buddy Jeanette Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- "Tyronn Lue Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- "Dick Motta Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- "Nick Nurse Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- "Jack Ramsay Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- "Doc Rivers Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- "George Senesky Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
- "Bill Sharman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- "Paul Westhead Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
- "Lenny Wilkens Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 15, 2010.