The 14 Greatest NBA Coaches of All Time

From dynasty builders to tactical masterminds, these coaches shaped the history of professional basketball. Cast your vote for the greatest NBA coach of all time.

1

Phil Jackson

The Zen Master who won 11 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers using the triangle offense and mindfulness.

1000pts

2

Jack Ramsay

The innovative tactician who won the 1977 title with the Portland Trail Blazers and was known for his brilliant Xs-and-Os mind.

571pts

3

Chuck Daly

The architect of the Bad Boy Pistons who won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990 and coached the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics.

499pts

4

Don Nelson

The eccentric innovator who holds the NBA record for most wins as a head coach and pioneered the small-ball 'Nellie Ball' offensive philosophy.

499pts

5

Red Holzman

The New York Knicks coach who led the franchise to its only two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973 with a team-first defensive philosophy.

499pts

6

Larry Brown

The only coach to win both an NCAA and NBA championship, known for a lifetime of excellence and his insistence on playing the right way.

499pts

7

Erik Spoelstra

The Miami Heat maestro who won 2 championships with LeBron James and then 2 more with Bam Adebayo, proving his brilliance across eras.

499pts

8

Steve Kerr

The Golden State Warriors' championship architect who won 4 titles in 8 years by implementing a revolutionary ball-movement offensive system.

499pts

9

Gregg Popovich

The San Antonio Spurs patriarch who won 5 championships across five decades and is widely considered the best tactical coach in NBA history.

399pts

10

Red Auerbach

The Boston Celtics legend who won 9 championships and built the most dominant dynasty in NBA history from the 1950s through the 1960s.

249pts

11

Jerry Sloan

The ironman coach who spent 23 seasons with the Utah Jazz, built the Stockton-to-Malone dynasty, and was one of the toughest coaches in history.

249pts

12

Tom Thibodeau

The defensive mastermind known as 'Thibs' whose suffocating schemes transformed multiple franchises and earned him a Coach of the Year award.

249pts

13

Pat Riley

The Showtime Lakers maestro who won 5 titles across two franchises and defined the glamour and intensity of NBA coaching in the 1980s.

0pts

14

Doc Rivers

The veteran coach who ended Boston's 22-year title drought in 2008 with the 'Ubuntu' Celtics and guided multiple franchises to deep playoff runs.

0pts