# The 17 Greatest NBA Head Coaches of All Time

> Dynasty architects, quiet tacticians and fiery sideline generals span every era of the pro game, from the black-and-white days to the modern hardwood. Cast your vote!

*By YPB Team · Published July 12, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-17-greatest-nba-head-coaches-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Red Auerbach** — score 1000/1000
   Architect of the Boston Celtics dynasty who won nine championships, including eight in a row.
2. **Don Nelson** — score 943/1000
   Innovative offensive mind and the NBA's all-time wins leader, credited with popularizing small-ball.
3. **Chuck Daly** — score 877/1000
   Detroit's Bad Boys coach who won back-to-back titles and led the 1992 Dream Team.
4. **Phil Jackson** — score 771/1000
   Winner of a record 11 NBA titles guiding the Bulls and Lakers dynasties with his triangle offense.
5. **Pat Riley** — score 771/1000
   Showtime Lakers and Miami Heat leader who captured five championships across two eras.
6. **Lenny Wilkens** — score 692/1000
   Hall of Famer who won a title with Seattle and long held the record for career coaching wins.
7. **Steve Kerr** — score 600/1000
   Golden State Warriors coach who won four titles fielding a record-setting, ball-movement offense.
8. **Larry Brown** — score 600/1000
   The only coach to win both an NCAA title and an NBA championship, famed as a master teacher.
9. **K.C. Jones** — score 600/1000
   Celtics coach who won back-to-back titles in the 1980s after a Hall of Fame playing career.
10. **John Kundla** — score 491/1000
   Coach of the first NBA dynasty, winning five titles with the Minneapolis Lakers.
11. **Erik Spoelstra** — score 360/1000
   Miami Heat coach who guided the Big Three to back-to-back championships and repeated Finals runs.
12. **Rudy Tomjanovich** — score 360/1000
   Houston Rockets coach of back-to-back 1990s champions, famed for 'never underestimate the heart of a champion.'
13. **Alex Hannum** — score 360/1000
   The first coach to win NBA titles with two different franchises, breaking the Celtics' 1960s grip.
14. **Red Holzman** — score 360/1000
   New York Knicks coach who led the franchise to its only two championships in 1970 and 1973.
15. **Doc Rivers** — score 360/1000
   Championship-winning Celtics coach known for his leadership and 'ubuntu' team culture.
16. **Gregg Popovich** — score 200/1000
   Longtime Spurs coach with five titles and the most regular-season wins in NBA history.
17. **Jerry Sloan** — score 200/1000
   Utah Jazz stalwart who reached two Finals and won over 1,200 games across 23 seasons.

Tags: basketball, nba, all-time, coaches