List of NBA championship head coaches

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a major professional basketball league in North America. It was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[1] The league adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 NBA season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).[2] The league consists of 30 teams, of which 29 are located in the United States and 1 in Canada. In the NBA, a head coach is the highest ranking coach of a coaching staff. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than the assistant coaches.

Former Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson has won eleven NBA championships, the most in NBA history. He won six titles with the Chicago Bulls and five titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, and is one of three coaches who have won multiple championships with more than one team (Pat Riley and Alex Hannum are the others). Red Auerbach won nine championships with the Boston Celtics, including eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966. John Kundla, Pat Riley and Gregg Popovich have each won five championships. John Kundla won all of his titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Gregg Popovich won all of his titles with the San Antonio Spurs, while Pat Riley won four titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. Current Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has won four championships, while current Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has won two titles. Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, and New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown are the only other active coaches who have won a championship. Carlisle won while with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, Lue with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, Nurse with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Mazzulla with the Boston Celtics in 2024, Daigneault with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025, and Brown with the New York Knicks in 2026.

Other achievements

Key

Yrs Number of years coached
GC Games coached
W Wins
L Losses
Win% Winning percentage
^ Denotes coach who is currently coaching an NBA team
* Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach

List

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2025–26 NBA season.

Number won Coach Team(s) won with (years)[a] Coaching career[b] Yrs GC W L Win% GC W L Win% Ref.
Regular season Playoffs
11 Phil Jackson* Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)		 1989–1998, 1999–2004, 2005–2011 20 1,640 1,155 485 .704 333 229 104 .688 [7]
9 Red Auerbach* Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) 1946–1966 20 1,417 938 479 .662 168 99 69 .589 [8]
5 John Kundla* Minneapolis Lakers (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) 1948–1958, 1958–1959 11 725 423 302 .583 95 60 35 .632 [9]
5 Gregg Popovich* San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) 1996–2025 29 2,214 1,390 824 .628 284 170 114 .599 [10]
5 Pat Riley* Los Angeles Lakers (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Miami Heat (2006)		 1981–1990, 1991–2003, 2005–2008 24 1,904 1,210 694 .636 282 171 111 .606 [11]
4 Steve Kerr^ Golden State Warriors (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) 2014–present 12 957 604 353 .631 152 104 48 .684 [12]
2 Chuck Daly* Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990) 1981–1982, 1983–1994, 1997–1999 14 1,075 638 437 .593 126 75 51 .595 [13]
2 Alex Hannum* St. Louis Hawks (1958)
Philadelphia 76ers (1967)		 1956–1958, 1960–1968, 1969–1971 12 883 471 412 .533 81 47 34 .580 [14]
2 Tom Heinsohn* Boston Celtics (1974, 1976) 1969–1978 9 690 427 263 .619 80 47 33 .588 [15]
2 Red Holzman* New York Knicks (1970, 1973) 1954–1957, 1967–1977, 1978–1982 18 1,300 696 604 .535 106 58 48 .547 [16]
2 K. C. Jones Boston Celtics (1984, 1986) 1973–1976, 1983–1988, 1990–1992 10 774 522 252 .674 138 81 57 .587 [17]
2 Bill Russell* Boston Celtics (1968, 1969) 1966–1969, 1973–1977, 1987–1988 8 631 341 290 .540 61 34 27 .557 [18]
2 Erik Spoelstra^ Miami Heat (2012, 2013) 2008–present 18 1,441 830 611 .576 193 110 83 .570 [19]
2 Rudy Tomjanovich* Houston Rockets (1994, 1995) 1992–2003, 2004–2005 13 943 527 416 .559 90 51 39 .567 [20]
1 Al Attles* Golden State Warriors (1975) 1969–1983 14 1,075 557 518 .518 61 31 30 .508 [21]
1 Larry Brown* Detroit Pistons (2004) 1976–1979, 1981–1983, 1988–2006, 2008–2010 27 2,002 1,098 904 .548 193 100 93 .518 [22]
1 Mike Brown^ New York Knicks (2026) 2005–2010, 2011–2012, 2013–2014, 2022–2024, 2025–present 12 840 507 333 .604 109 66 43 .606 [23]
1 Mike Budenholzer Milwaukee Bucks (2021) 2013–2023, 2024–2025 11 883 520 363 .589 104 56 48 .538 [24]
1 Rick Carlisle^ Dallas Mavericks (2011) 2001–2007, 2008–present 24 1,935 1,012 923 .523 173 86 87 .497 [25]
1 Al Cervi Syracuse Nationals (1955) 1949–1956, 1958–1959 9 567 326 241 .575 60 34 26 .567 [26]
1 Larry Costello Milwaukee Bucks (1971) 1968–1976, 1978–1979 10 730 430 300 .589 60 37 23 .617 [27]
1 Billy Cunningham Philadelphia 76ers (1983) 1977–1985 8 650 454 196 .698 105 66 39 .629 [28]
1 Mark Daigneault^ Oklahoma City Thunder (2025) 2020–present 6 482 275 207 .571 48 33 15 .688 [29]
1 Bill Fitch* Boston Celtics (1981) 1970–1988, 1989–1992, 1994–1998 25 2,050 944 1,106 .460 109 55 54 .505 [30]
1 Edward Gottlieb Philadelphia Warriors (1947) 1946–1955 9 581 263 318 .453 32 15 17 .469 [31]
1 Les Harrison Rochester Royals (1951) 1948–1955 7 476 295 181 .620 38 19 19 .500 [32]
1 Buddy Jeannette Baltimore Bullets (1948) 1947–1952, 1964–1966, 1966–1968 7 354 151 203 .427 24 14 10 .583 [33]
1 Tyronn Lue^ Cleveland Cavaliers (2016) 2016–2018, 2020–present 10 693 404 289 .583 98 57 41 .582 [34]
1 Michael Malone Denver Nuggets (2023) 2013–2025 12 904 510 394 .564 80 44 36 .550 [35]
1 Joe Mazzulla^ Boston Celtics (2024) 2022–present 4 328 238 90 .726 57 36 21 .632 [36]
1 Dick Motta Washington Bullets (1978) 1968–1980, 1980–1987, 1990–1991, 1994–1997 25 1,952 935 1,017 .479 126 56 70 .444 [37]
1 Nick Nurse^ Toronto Raptors (2019) 2018–present 8 636 343 293 .539 58 31 27 .534 [38]
1 Jack Ramsay* Portland Trail Blazers (1977) 1969–1972, 1973–1989 21 1,647 864 783 .525 102 44 58 .431 [39]
1 Doc Rivers* Boston Celtics (2008) 1999–2003, 2004–2026 27 2,060 1,194 866 .580 226 114 112 .504 [40]
1 George Senesky Philadelphia Warriors (1956) 1955–1958 3 216 119 97 .551 20 10 10 .500 [41]
1 Bill Sharman* Los Angeles Lakers (1972) 1966–1968, 1971–1977 7 573 333 240 .581 62 35 27 .565 [42]
1 Frank Vogel Los Angeles Lakers (2020) 2010–2018, 2019–2022, 2023–2024 12 902 480 422 .532 92 49 43 .533 [43]
1 Paul Westhead Los Angeles Lakers (1980) 1979–1981, 1982–1983, 1990–1992 6 407 183 224 .450 19 13 6 .684 [44]
1 Lenny Wilkens* Seattle SuperSonics (1979) 1969–1972, 1974–1976, 1977–1985, 1986–2003, 2004–2005 32 2,487 1,332 1,155 .536 178 80 98 .449 [45]

See also

Notes

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Goldaper, Sam. "The First Game". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  2. ↑ "1949–50 Season Overview: Powerful Lakers Repeat". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  4. ↑ "NBA Stars Who have Won Championships as Both Player and Coach". www.allaboutbasketball.us.
  5. ↑ "NBA coaches who have won NBA championships as players, too". Fox Sports. June 17, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ Vogel, Brandon (June 20, 2016). "Hot Reads: Tryonn". Hail Varsity. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Phil Jackson Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Red Auerbach Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  9. ↑ "John Kundla Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Gregg Popovich Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Pat Riley Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Steve Kerr Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Chuck Daly Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Alex Hannum Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Tom Heinsohn Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Red Holzman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  17. ↑ "K. C. Jones Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Bill Russell Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Erik Spoelstra Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Rudy Tomjanovich Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Al Attles Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Larry Brown Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Mike Brown Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Mike Budenholzer Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Rick Carlisle Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Al Cervi Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Larry Costello Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Billy Cunningham Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Mark Daigneault Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Bill Fitch Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Edward Gottlieb Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Les Harrison Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Buddy Jeannette Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Tyronn Lue Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Mike Malone Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Joe Mazzulla Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Dick Motta Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Nick Nurse Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  39. ↑ "Jack Ramsay Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Doc Rivers Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  41. ↑ "George Senesky Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Bill Sharman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Frank Vogel Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Paul Westhead Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Lenny Wilkens Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

Sources

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