4 Famous NBA Coaches in Basketball History

The National Association of Basketball Coaches had announced that Craig Robinson, a collegiate basketball coach for years and is also known to be Michelle Obama’s brother, will replace Jim Haney as the head of the organization. Robinson most recently worked for the NBA’s New York Knicks.

In an interview, he stated, “I’m extremely honored and excited for this tremendous and vital opportunity. I look forward to the challenges ahead.”

When it comes to basketball, it’s not just the players that make up the team. Their coaches also serve as guides when playing the game. They are the ones who strategize and help the players overcome their opponents. You can say that they are vital to every team’s success. So, here are some of the best NBA coaches that have made their mark in basketball history.

Phil Jackson

Many think of Phil Jackson as the greatest coach of all time. This is because he retired with 11 championships under his belt. He was also known for having coached some of the best players. These include Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, and Pippen. His record is an amazing 1,155-485. Jackson also won the NBA Coach of the Year Award in the 1995-1996 season. And in 2007, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Red Auerbach

This basketball coach is known as the “Godfather of the NBA.” For over 30 years, he was the coach and executive of the Boston Celtics and has helped them win 9 championships, 8 of which were consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966. Auerbach had always understood the relevance of defense. He was the one who planned a pre-draft trade for Russell, who is still the best defensive center in league history. He has a record of 823-426, and in 1956 he won the NBA Coach of the Year Award. In 1969, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.  

Pat Riley

Pat Riley was the NBA head coach for the Lakers during the ’80s. You could not miss the guy who was widely known for his slick backed hair and Armani suits. He had a career as an NBA coach for 24 years. He worked with the Lakers, who he won 4 championships with, the Knicks and the Heat, who he also won 1 championship with. This 5th win of his was done with the help of Dwayne Wade and Shaq in 2006. Many consider it a mix of style, which is why he’s considered such a formidable coach. Riley has a record of 1,210-694. He won the NBA Coach of the Year three times (1990, 1993 and 1997). In 2008, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Gregg Popovich

In 1996, Popovich was the general manager of the Spurs until he fired Bob Hill and became the NBA head coach himself. It proved to be the right decision because, in his 13-year career as a coach, he had helped the San Antonio Spurs win 4 championships and achieve 633 wins with only 305 losses. Popovich is also known to work well with Tim Duncan, which is one of the reasons why they had won all those championships. He has a record of 797-383 and is eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.   

Considering all of these outstanding NBA coaches, no one can deny their significance in the game. This is also one of the many factors that basketball fans and bettors consider when choosing their teams.

For instance, sports bettors will look for new sportsbooks or top online bookies to place their bets on a certain basketball team. One of the many things that they could factor in is how well rounded the team is. They will take into consideration the stats of not just the team but the coaches as well. This is because NBA coaches are also the ones who help plan how the game will go and what would be the better strategy for a winning outcome.  

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