Leading Everyone to Victory
Teams don’t get far without their coaches, yet year after year, the focus is mainly spent on the players. Hey, we get it—on the surface, it looks like they’re doing all the hard work out there. But strong leadership starts behind the scenes, and we’re here to break down which coaches consistently delivered for their men.
Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA on Wikimedia
1. Phil Jackson
You don’t earn 11 NBA championships if you don’t know what you’re doing! Jackson secured his post as one, if not the best, basketball coach of all time. Over his time with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, he didn’t need to crack the whip to get results, either; his calm style earned him the title “The Zen Master” and locked him in as a kind-hearted victor.
Bridget Samuels from College Park, MD on Wikimedia
2. Gregg Popovich
What has Mr. Popovich accomplished, you ask? Oh, you know, just 1,422 regular-season wins, five championships with the Spurs, and three NBA Coach of the Year awards. No big deal! When he wasn’t bringing his team to 22 consecutive postseasons, he was busy getting the most career regular-season victories in NBA history.
3. Lenny Wilkens
It’s hard to call the SuperSonics super without Wilkens’ power. He led them to their first and only championship win back in 1979, but that’s far from all. He’s also the only guy who was recognized as one of the greatest coaches and players of all time across his career!
U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Samuel Morse /Released on Wikimedia
4. Erik Spoelstra
With Spoelstra behind them, the Miami Heat can’t help but set fire to the court. He’s the longest-tenured coach in the league, which might rub some people the wrong way, but certainly not his fans! He has an incredible rapport with his men and led the Heat to two championships in 2012 and 2013.
Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA on Wikimedia
5. Steve Kerr
Kerr has been crowned one of the best coaches in NBA history, and when you learn about a few of his accomplishments, it’s easy to see why. He has four championships, has the most wins in Golden State Warriors franchise history, and basically revolutionized offensive play. Wins aside, he changed the name of the game.
