Famous NBA Coaches

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NBA, the National Basket Ball Association, is headquartered in the Olympic Tower, 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City. The NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are located in Secaucus, New Jersey. It is one of the major sports leagues in Northern America. It has thirty franchised clubs and is the biggest professional basketball league in the world. It was founded on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association of America, BBA. The name was changed to the National Basketball Association to bring it in closer proximity with its rival, NBL, the National Basketball League. The NBA coaches have played the pivotal role in most of the crucial wins. They are known for being adept in devising unique strategies for their teams. Common features of the most famous NBA coaches are that all of them had been well-versed with the rules of the game, were great strategists, set the tempo of the game, knew their players thoroughly and positioned them in the most suitable positions, knew the time outs and score throughout the development of the game and also made the synergistic use of their own and their players’ skills.

1. Arnold Jacob Auerbach

Arnold Jacob Auerbach
Arnold Jacob Auerbach

Arnold Jacob Auerbach, better known as Red Auerbach, was born to Marie and Hyman Auerbach on September 20, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. and died on October 28, 2006 in Washington, D.C., U.S. He is best remembered for pioneering the modern basketball game. He had won 938 games and nine NBA championships and stands next only to Phil Jackson in this respect. His drafting the first African-American NBA player, Chuck Cooper, is of historical importance. By dint of his outstanding coaching, he groomed many basketball players who were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1965, he won the NBA Coach of the Year Award and in 1967, this award was renamed the Red Auerbach Trophy. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. He used to light a cigar when he thought his team had almost won the match and his act was known as the ultimate symbol of victory.

2. Philip Douglas Jackson

Philip Douglas Jackson
Philip Douglas Jackson

Philip Douglas Jackson, commonly known as Phil Jackson, was born to Charles and Elizabeth Funk on September 17, 1945. He is a retired American basketball player and coach. He is one of the greatest NBA coaches. He has won eleven NBA titles as a coach and has surpassed the former record holder Red Auerbach. His winning percentage as the coach is considered the highest among the NBA coaches. He is six feet eight inches tall and weighs one hundred kgs. He has written many books relating to the game. He is also the recipient of the North Dakota’s Roughrider Award. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

3. Charles Jerome Daly

Charles Jerome Daly
Charles Jerome Daly

Charles Jerome Daly, commonly known as Chuck Daly, was born to Earl and Geraldine Daly on July 20, 1930 in St. Mary, Pennsylvania, U.S. and died on May 9, 2009 at the age of seventy eight years, in Jupiter, Florida, U.S. He was an NBA coach for fourteen years. He led the Detroit Pistons to two NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. He attended Kane Area High School and St. Bonaventure University. He graduated from Bloomsberg University of Pennsylvania. He joined NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach in 1978. He coached 14 NBA seasons and ranks thirteenth best among all coaches.

4. William Charles Fitch

William Charles Fitch
William Charles Fitch

William Charles Fitch, better known as Bill Fitch, was born on May 19, 1934 in Davenport, Iowa, U.S. Before becoming a professional basketball coach, he was a U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor, which explains his being very strong at work ethics. He had also coached at the University of Minnesota, Bowling Green State University, the University of North Dakota and his alma mater, Coe College. He has received NBA’s Coach of the Year Award twice. He is credited with guiding Robert Parish, Bird, Kevin McHale, and the other players of the Boston Celtics to the 1981 NBA championship. Bill Fitch was named one of the Ten Greatest Coaches of All ‘Time.

5. William Holzman

William Holzman
William Holzman

William Holzman, better known as Red Holzman, was born on August 10, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York and died on November 13, 1998 in New Hyde Park, New York, U.S. He was an NBA player and coach. He was raised in Ocean Hill-Brownsville. He attended Franklin K Lane High School, City College of New York and the University of Baltimore. He served in the U.S. Navy in 1942. In 1985, he was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and was named one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History in 1996.

6. John Albert Kundla

John Albert Kundla
John Albert Kundla

John Albert Kundla was born on July 3, 1916 in Star Junction, Pennsylvania, and U.S. He is a former college and professional basketball coach. After his graduation, he started his career as assistant coach to Dave Macmillan and later served as head coach of De La Salle High School in Minneapolis. He served in the U.S. Navy for some time and had been coach of the College of St.Thomas. He led Minneapolis to five NBA championships. His grandsons, Isaiah Dahlman and Noah Dahlman, are famous basketball stars. John Albert Kundla was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

7. Donald Arvid Nelson

Donald Arvid Nelson
Donald Arvid Nelson

Donald Arvid Nelson, also known as Don Nelson, was born on May 15, 1940. He is a former NBA player and head coach. He attended and played for Rock Island High School and the University of Iowa. NBA drafted him for the Chicago Zephyrs and later on his services were acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1963. He is known for inventing the innovative technique of the point forward, which is being utilized at all levels. This unique and unconventional offensive strategy in basketball is named after Nelson as Neille Ball. With 1,333 wins, he appeared on the first position in the all-time NBA wins list. He was named thrice as the Coach of the Year, an honor held only by Pat Riley, other than himself.

8. John T. Ramsay

Jack Ramsay
Jack Ramsay

John T. Ramsay, often known as Jack Ramsay, is an American former basketball player and coach. He was born on February 21, 1925. He attended Upper Darby High School and was inducted into the school’s Wall of Fame in 1979. He received his B.A. degree from Saint Joseph College in 1949. He earned his masters in 1952 and PhD. in 1963 from the University of Pennsylvania. He led the Blazers to the NBA title. He served the NBA as head coach for twenty years. Ramsay was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.

9. Patrick James Riley

Patrick James Riley
Patrick James Riley

Patrick James Riley, usually called Pat Riley, was born to Leon Riley, a well known basketball player, in Rome, New York, U.S.on March 20, 1945. He was raised in Schenectady and played there for Linton High School. He is a former NBA player and coach. He is ranked among the all-time greatest coaches of NBA. He served five championship teams as head coach. Thrice, he has been the NBA coach of the year. He coached the Lakers, considered one of the all-time best teams, comprised of famous Hall of Fame inductees like Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He was named the Coach of the Year for 1996-1997.

Conclusion

Unlike the performance of the players during a game, only very little of the performance of a basketball coach can be seen during the conduct of the game. Almost 95 % of his performance is before and after the game. It is not only the number of wins that makes a great coach, it is also the method of his teaching the basic skills like passing, dribbling, defending and rebounding drills. His knowledge of kinesiology, the science related to the physiological, mechanical and mechanical aspects of human movement, also counts. What, however, counts the most is their historical record.

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