🏀Best NBA Coaches of All Time

Phil Jackson▲ Rising

Phil Jackson won six titles with the Bulls in the 1990s using the triangle offense and unmatched player management, then added five more with the Lakers. His ability to integrate superstar egos into a selfless system produced the most successful coaching run in league history.

Titles: 11Seasons: 20Wins: 1,155Win Rate: 0.704Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRPhil Jackson

Pat Riley▲ Rising

Pat Riley won four rings with the Showtime Lakers then a fifth with the Knicks and Heat by preaching physical defense and mental toughness. His ability to adapt from fast-break to half-court dominance across three decades secured his legacy.

Titles: 5Seasons: 24Wins: 1,215Win Rate: 0.592Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRPat Riley

Red Auerbach▲ Rising

Red Auerbach engineered the Celtics' 1960s dynasty with nine titles in ten years by emphasizing team defense and smart drafting. His cigar-smoking sideline presence became the symbol of championship confidence in the early NBA.

Titles: 9Seasons: 20Wins: 938Win Rate: 0.612Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRRed Auerbach

Jack Ramsay▲ Rising

Jack Ramsay delivered the 1977 title with the Trail Blazers through an up-tempo, team-oriented style that became a blueprint for fast-breaking teams. His clear communication and tactical discipline produced one of the most beloved championship runs.

Titles: 1Seasons: 21Wins: 864Win Rate: 0.541Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRJack Ramsay

Red Holzman▲ Rising

Red Holzman led the Knicks to two championships in 1970 and 1973 with a team-first defensive system and unselfish play that defined New York basketball for a generation.

Titles: 2Seasons: 18Wins: 696Win Rate: 0.549Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRRed Holzman

John Kundla▲ Rising

John Kundla guided the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles in six years during the league's early days with George Mikan as the focal point. His fast-paced style and calm leadership established the first true NBA dynasty.

Titles: 5Seasons: 11Wins: 423Win Rate: 0.582Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRJohn Kundla

Larry Brown

Larry Brown won a title with the Pistons in 2004 using disciplined team defense and ball movement after a nomadic career that included college and ABA success. His ability to teach fundamentals across many stops earned universal respect.

Titles: 1Seasons: 27Wins: 1,213Win Rate: 0.54Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRLarry Brown

Gregg Popovich▲ Rising

Gregg Popovich turned the Spurs into a two-decade model of consistency with five titles, Tim Duncan at the center, and an international roster that stressed ball movement. His steady leadership produced the longest sustained excellence in modern NBA history.

Titles: 5Seasons: 27Wins: 1,365Win Rate: 0.589Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRGregg Popovich

Lenny Wilkens▲ Rising

Lenny Wilkens won a title as player-coach with the 1979 SuperSonics and later became the second-winningest coach ever through steady leadership across five teams.

Titles: 1Seasons: 32Wins: 1,332Win Rate: 0.536Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRLenny Wilkens

Erik Spoelstra

Erik Spoelstra delivered two titles with the Heat by evolving from LeBron James' arrival to a modern pace-and-space system built around Jimmy Butler and young talent.

Titles: 2Seasons: 16Wins: 690Win Rate: 0.58Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRErik Spoelstra

Rick Adelman

Rick Adelman reached the Finals twice and posted over 1,000 wins with multiple teams by emphasizing fluid offense and player development without ever winning a ring.

Titles: 0Seasons: 23Wins: 1,042Win Rate: 0.543Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRRick Adelman

Chuck Daly

Chuck Daly delivered back-to-back titles with the Bad Boy Pistons through relentless physical defense and veteran management, then coached the original Dream Team to Olympic gold. His defensive schemes became the blueprint for 1990s championship teams.

Titles: 2Seasons: 14Wins: 638Win Rate: 0.561Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRChuck Daly

Dick Motta▼ Falling

Dick Motta won the 1978 title with the Bullets through gritty defense and veteran poise while posting consistent winning records over a quarter-century career.

Titles: 1Seasons: 25Wins: 935Win Rate: 0.509Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRDick Motta

Don Nelson▲ Rising

Don Nelson revolutionized offense with small-ball and three-point emphasis while racking up the most coaching wins in history across multiple teams. His innovative style influenced the modern spacing revolution.

Titles: 0Seasons: 31Wins: 1,335Win Rate: 0.536Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRDon Nelson

Steve Kerr

Steve Kerr won four titles in his first nine seasons with the Warriors by installing motion offense and three-point volume that changed how championship teams are built.

Titles: 4Seasons: 9Wins: 415Win Rate: 0.652Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRin 2 rankingsSteve Kerr

K.C. Jones

K.C. Jones won two championships coaching the Celtics in the 1980s by maximizing the talents of Bird, McHale and Parish with defensive discipline and efficient offense.

Titles: 2Seasons: 10Wins: 522Win Rate: 0.609Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJR

Jerry Sloan

Jerry Sloan built the Utah Jazz into a perennial contender for nearly three decades with the pick-and-roll offense and unmatched defensive intensity alongside Stockton and Malone. His loyalty and consistency set the standard for long-term franchise building.

Titles: 0Seasons: 26Wins: 1,221Win Rate: 0.563Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRin 2 rankingsJerry Sloan

Bill Fitch

Bill Fitch coached the Celtics to the 1981 title and later guided the Cavs and Rockets with tough, fundamentals-first approaches that produced multiple deep playoff runs.

Titles: 1Seasons: 25Wins: 944Win Rate: 0.479Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRBill Fitch

Doc Rivers▼ Falling

Doc Rivers captured the 2008 title with the Celtics Big Three by instilling defensive identity and veteran leadership that turned a superteam into a cohesive unit.

Titles: 1Seasons: 22Wins: 943Win Rate: 0.549Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRDoc Rivers

Rudy Tomjanovich

Rudy Tomjanovich led the Rockets to back-to-back titles in the mid-90s behind Hakeem Olajuwon by blending inside dominance with perimeter shooting and calm leadership after a near-tragic incident.

Titles: 2Seasons: 13Wins: 527Win Rate: 0.564Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRRudy Tomjanovich

Alex Hannum

Alex Hannum won two championships with different teams in the 1950s and 1960s by instilling tough defense and discipline, becoming one of the first coaches to succeed across franchises.

Titles: 2Seasons: 13Wins: 467Win Rate: 0.538Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJRAlex Hannum

Tommy Heinsohn

Tommy Heinsohn won two titles as Celtics coach in the 1970s by continuing the franchise's winning culture with smart rotations and veteran leadership after his playing days.

Titles: 2Seasons: 9Wins: 427Win Rate: 0.585Hall of Fame: ✓

added by IJR

Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel won the 2020 bubble title with the Lakers by installing elite defense and adjustments around LeBron and AD after earlier success in Indiana.

Titles: 1Seasons: 12Wins: 479Win Rate: 0.541Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRFrank Vogel

George Karl

George Karl reached the Finals once and won Coach of the Year honors multiple times with high-powered offenses across four teams but never captured a title.

Titles: 0Seasons: 27Wins: 1,175Win Rate: 0.549Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRGeorge Karl

Mike D'Antoni▼ Falling

Mike D'Antoni transformed offenses with the Suns and later the Rockets and Knicks by maximizing pace and three-point shooting, earning multiple Coach of the Year honors despite no titles.

Titles: 0Seasons: 18Wins: 672Win Rate: 0.549Hall of Fame: —

added by IJRMike D'Antoni