Legendary coach of the ’80s Lakers, ’90s Knicks, and ’00s Heat, he defined ‘”Showtime” cool with his slick-backed hair, Armani suits, and incredible success, winning four championships
FEATURED LISTS
Those who can’t do, teach: Nine non-star players who became legendary coaches
Foundational pieces: 30 notable NBA expansion draft picks
Penalty box-and-one: Five NBA playoff series that were swung by player suspensions
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss: 22 NBA coaches who had multiple stints with the same franchise
Limping to immortality: 10 NBA championship teams that struggled in the regular season
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Cold comfort: 18 NBA Coach of the Year winners whose team made an early playoff exit
Being named Coach of the Year is one of the premier honors for NBA coaches but doesn’t mean much if it coincides with playoff disappointment
Thanks for your service, we got it from here: 13 NBA coaches fired mid-season with a winning record
The pressure is on more than ever for NBA coaches, even successful ones, but the habit of firings during winning seasons is hardly new, as can be attested by the coaches on this list
Foundational pieces: 30 notable NBA expansion draft picks
Utilized to seed the roster of new franchises, expansion drafts have been staged 11 times in NBA history, starting with the Chicago Packers in 1961 and most recently with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. These are the most notable selections in expansion draft history, from flops to revivals to impending franchise cornerstones.
Don’t you forget about me: 80 basketball moments from the ’80s that changed the sport forever
As part of our Totally ’80s series, we explore the 80 most monumental, controversial, influential, unforgettable, and indescribable basketball moments from the 1980s.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss: 22 NBA coaches who had multiple stints with the same franchise
Following their firing, re-signing, retiring, or demotion, these 22 coaches came back to the same NBA franchise a second time, often inexplicably and usually with diminishing returns.
Those who can’t do, teach: Nine non-star players who became legendary coaches
We previously listed great players who were less than stellar as coaches. This is a compilation of players whose careers ranged from average to slightly above average, but went on to become legendary coaches.
We’re not gonna take it: Eight NBA teams that openly rebelled against their head coach
When management didn’t move fast enough, these teams took matters into their own hands, undermining their coach and questioning his authority until there was no choice left but to fire him.
Trickle down effect: Six NBA team cultures that took on the personality of their owner
Some were just there for a good time, some wanted to win at any cost, some wanted to give back to their community, and some wanted to just bleed the franchise for whatever it was worth.