Top Ten: NBA Coaches

Each year we see a select few men be offered the job to coach an NBA team. Some do not remotely succeed, but a couple join the group of elite coaches across the association. It’s time to identify the top ten.

10. Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

Beginning our list is Ime Udoka, current Rockets head coach and former Celtics boss. A long-time Popovich disciple, Udoka has been a head coach for three seasons, having a cumulative 126-93 record, but he had become the coach for the Rockets rebuild which has gone very well at the direction of Udoka.

They were .500 last season in his first year and now hold the 4th seed and with Udoka’s rotations, have a true ability to win a playoff series.

9. Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers

The second coach on this list has always been one of the better developers, since his time with Brooklyn in the D’Angelo Russell years, then as an assistant in Golden State and now he comes back to head coaching with the Cavs and has looked excellent as they hope to earn the right to not only win a playoff series, but the whole Eastern Conference.

8. Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies

Next up is Taylor Jenkins who is another excellent developmental coach but I want to praise his choices even further because the sheer depth Memphis has paired with the constantly flow of injuries it seems as though Jaren Jackson Jr is the only consistent piece but Jenkins continues to find guys that help their ability to win in the moments they need.

7. Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics

At number seven is the coach of the reigning NBA Champions. Since his hiring in 2022-23 the Celtics have been dominant, going 161-59 in his 220-game tenure, these statistics explain exactly why he makes this prestigious list, but the reason he does not find himself higher is due to the talent around him and certain decision-making issues he has when his talent isn’t completely dominant.

6. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks

The placement of Jason Kidd on this list falls on unfortunate timing as Luka Doncic was quintessential to what Kidd does. Still, now we will have to see a new form of the Mavs, led by Kyrie, PJ Washington and Derrick Lively until Anthony Davis returns, but regardless since Kidd’s hiring the Mavs have been better, not to slate Rick Carlisle but the Mavs before Kidd felt stagnant and slow, now and with Doncic it had new life, more lobs, and the iconic Luka dagger. Still, Kidd will have to develop a new formula that emboldens the growing defensive talent on the team.

5. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors

Cracking our top five off is one of the greatest coaches of all time; Steve Kerr and the Warriors have achieved immortality and greatness multiple times, and for that, he deserves praise and recognition.

Why he does not land higher is due to the recent years, after Kevin Durant left, and now Klay Thompson in this pseudo-rebuild era the Warriors look bland and uninspiring.

Steph Curry is willing his way to wins it seems like there isn’t much to the Warriors and that feels down to Kerr, the undeniable talent of Kuminga and Podziemski have been waiting to be utilized since their draft date but now the Warriors bring in Jimmy Butler and it seems even more so that currently Kerr can only rely on premade talent.

4. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

The head coach with the best record in basketball finds himself just outside the top three. Not because of his talent but because of the accolades, which Daigneault is continuing to tick off as he orchestrates the greatest rebuild in NBA history. The reigning Coach of the Year looks to make a deep playoff run cementing the Thunder in the NBA’s highest echelon of all-time teams.

3. Mike Malone, Denver Nuggets

Mike Malone begins the top three as he continues to prove why he is one of the best coaches in the NBA. Obviously, it helps that he has one of the greatest players in NBA history but the continuity of success in Denver, despite a continued trend of losing talent on top of aging to their key pieces, is a testament to the tactical genius of Malone.

2. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

Bringing home the silver medal is Erik Spoelstra, a man who has done is all in the NBA, he has coached all-time greats, won multiple NBA Finals, even experienced success in the Olympics. The Miami Heat have not progressed as far as one would wish lately but Spoelstra’s success and talent are undeniable.

1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

The Greatest of All-time. It may be a discussion for the best player, but Gregg Popovich is undeniably the greatest coach of all time. It may be difficult now as he has been sidelined due to his health complications, but he has been an NBA head coach since 1996 and has coached over 2200 NBA games with a record of 1412-850, an over 62 percent win percentage during his almost 30 years of tenure, all on the San Antonio Spurs. Coaching greats from David Robinson to Tim Duncan and now Victor Wembanyama, it would be an understatement to say he coaches and creates winners.

The NBA has the fantastic experience of having some of the best athletes this world has ever seen, but the coaches get the true privilege of molding the athleticism into a winner on a team, pure talent will never be enough, there must be someone bringing together that talent and weaving a game plan to bring out each teammate’s talents, that is where the ten men on this list flourish.

Massimo Manfra is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mgm6116@psu.edu.