NBA coaches play an important role in leading a franchise to the championship. Players get all the recognition after winning an NBA championship, while the coaches become the behind-the-scenes heroes. Boston Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla and Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets became the two latest entries in the list of NBA championship-winning coaches.
The NBA franchises switch their coaches just like the players in the midseason. The 2021 NBA champions, Milwaukee Bucks, are among those teams as they replaced Adrian Griffin with Doc Rivers in January 2024. However, the change couldn’t do much for the Bucks as injuries forced an early playoff exit.
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, CBS Sports has ranked the top 30 coaches in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers announced their new head coach, JJ Redick, in July 2024. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn placed Redick on the 30th rank before his debut as an NBA coach.
Fans React To “Worst Ever” NBA Coaches List
Surprisingly, Doc Rivers, the 2000 NBA Coach of the Year, couldn’t make it into the top 20 coaches. The Bucks coach is ranked 22nd, while the fans called it the “worst ever” list as it ranked Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr above the last two NBA championship-winning coaches.
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Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics have a chance to win back-to-back titles this season, while Michael Malone guided Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets to the 2023 championship win. However, Kerr, who last won the NBA title as a coach in 2022 with the Warriors, has managed the fourth spot. On the other hand, Mazzulla was placed 11th, while Malone claimed the 15th spot.
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who took his side to the inaugural NBA Cup Finals, has managed the third spot in the list. Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors, is placed second. Erik Spoelstra, who has been the head coach of the Miami Heat since 2008 and has won two championships, secured the top spot on the list.
