Greatest Coach in the History of Each NBA Team

Head coaches of NBA teams may not get as much credit as the players that actually score the points and make the plays on the court, but they are still quite important.

But who are the best of the best when it comes to the clipboard-holders?

At the end of the day, a coach's job is to maximize the talent he is given to work with and produce wins at all costs. He has to make sure that chemistry is right and spirits are balanced in the process. Hell, even managing just one superstar is a difficult task.

Some men are just better suited to the task than others.

Read on for the top coach in each franchise's history.

Atlanta Hawks: Richie Guerin

Win-Loss Record: 327-291

Seasons: 1965-1972 (eight seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Eight

Championships: None

Even though he didn't guide the Atlanta Hawks to the franchise's only championship (that honor belongs to Alex Hannum), Guerin helped his team make eight playoff appearances in just eight years and has the most wins in franchise history.

Boston Celtics: Red Auerbach

Win-Loss Record: 795-397

Seasons: 1951-1966 (16 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: 16

Championships: Nine

Red Auerbach guided the Boston Celtics to nine championships. Yeah...I think he belongs here.

Charlotte Bobcats: Paul Silas

Win-Loss Record: 25-29

Seasons: 2010-2011 (one season)

Playoff Appearances: None

Championships: None

The Bobcats have only been around since 2004, which makes the pool of coaches pretty shallow. Last season's coach, Paul Silas, has a great track record and should be able to help the Bobcats improve with some new talent.

Chicago Bulls: Phil Jackson

Win-Loss Record: 545-193

Seasons: 1990-1998 (nine seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Nine

Championships: Six

Phil Jackson is the greatest head coach in NBA history, and he helped guide the Chicago Bulls to two separate three-peats with Michael Jordan leading the team on the court. This one is a no-brainer.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Mike Brown

Win-Loss Record: 272-138

Seasons: 2006-2010 (five seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Five

Championships: None

Was Mike Brown's success merely because of LeBron James? Maybe, but it does take a lot of talent to be able to manage a superstar. Plus, there aren't too many inspiring options in this franchise's history.

Dallas Mavericks: Rick Carlisle

Win-Loss Record: 162-84

Seasons: 2009-2011 (three seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Three

Championships: One

After guiding an aging Dallas Mavericks team to a title, Rick Carlisle has officially secured his legacy as a great head coach. He has a perfect record when it comes to making the playoffs, and it took him 10 games less to achieve the same number of postseason wins, 23, as Avery Johnson.

Denver Nuggets: George Karl

Win-Loss Record: 328-204

Seasons: 2005-2011 (seven seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Seven

Championships: None

Second to Joe Belmont in winning percentage and Larry Moe in total wins, George Karl does have the ability to hold his 100 percent success rate of making the playoffs over the other two coaches' heads.

Detroit Pistons: Chuck Daly

Win-Loss Record: 467-271

Seasons: 1984-1992 (nine seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Nine

Championships: Two

Another easy call—Chuck Daly has more than twice as many wins as any coach in Detroit Pistons history. He also has two championships, which holds quite a bit of weight in this argument.

Golden State Warriors: Al Attles

Win-Loss Record: 557-518

Seasons: 1970-1983 (14 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Six

Championships: One

This decision came down to two men: Al Attles and Don Nelson.

Nelson has 135 less wins, a lower winning percentage, one less playoff appearance and one less championship.

Game. Set. Match.

Houston Rockets: Rudy Tomjanovich

Win-Loss Record: 503-397

Seasons: 1992-2003 (12 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Seven

Championships: Two

With the franchise's only two titles and a 287-game lead in the winning column, Rudy Tomjanovich is head and shoulders above any other coach in the Houston Rockets history. Rick Adelman comes the closest, as he has the highest winning percentage for the team, but even he can't touch Tomjanovich.

Indiana Pacers: Slick Leonard

Win-Loss Record: 529-456

Seasons: 1969-1980 (12 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Eight

Championships: Three

Slick Leonard has three championships. No other coach in Indiana Pacers history has any.

Leonard has eight playoff appearances. No other coach in Pacers history has more than three.

Leonard has 529 wins for the Pacers. Larry Brown is second with 190.

Los Angeles Clippers: Jack Ramsay

Win-Loss Record: 158-170

Seasons: 1973-1976 (four seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Three

Championships: None

The Los Angeles Clippers have only made the playoffs seven times in their lengthy history, and Jack Ramsay (at left in photo) was at the helm for three of them. He may have a losing record, but so does almost every other Clippers coach to ever pick up the clipboard.

Los Angeles Lakers: Phil Jackson

Win-Loss Record: 610-292

Seasons: 2000-2011 (11 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: 11

Championships: Five

The Los Angeles Lakers have had some great coaches in the franchise's history, but the Zen Master tops them all. After all, he and Kobe Bryant have teamed up to win five championships in just 11 years.

Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Fratello

Win-Loss Record: 95-83

Seasons: 2005-2007 (three seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Two

Championships: None

Mike Fratello is the only coach in Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies history to post a winning record over his career. He also led the team to two of its four playoff appearances. Lionel Hollins may take over this spot in a few years, but not yet.

Miami Heat: Pat Riley

Win-Loss Record: 454-395

Seasons: 1996-2008 (11 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Eight

Championships: One

You didn't think it was going to be Erik Spoelstra here, did you?

Pat Riley, the coach who can singlehandedly keep hair gel companies in business, is one of the all-time greats, and he made a massive name for himself with the Miami Heat.

Milwaukee Bucks: Larry Costello

Win-Loss Record: 410-264

Seasons: 1969-1977 (nine seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Six

Championships: One

First of all, you've gotta love the plaid suit.

Don Nelson may have a higher winning percentage, more total wins and more playoff appearances, but Larry Costello has the success in the playoffs to call his own. Costello won 61.7 percent of his postseason games, while Nelson could only muster up a winning percentage of 47.7. Moreover, Costello took the Bucks to their only two NBA Finals appearances and won the franchise's only title.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Flip Saunders

Win-Loss Record: 411-326

Seasons: 1996-2005 (10 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Eight

Championships: None

First in Minnesota Timberwolves history in wins (411), winning percentage (55.8) and playoff appearances (eight): Flip Saunders, Flip Saunders and Flip Saunders.

Second in Timberwolves history in wins (53), winning percentage (43.4) and playoff appearances (none): Dwane Casey, Dwane Casey and an eight-way tie.

Who do you think deserves this spot?

New Jersey Nets: Kevin Loughery

Win-Loss Record: 297-318

Seasons: 1974-1981 (eight seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Four

Championships: Two

While he may be the not-so-proud owner of a losing record, leading the Nets to more wins, playoff appearances and championships than any other coach in the franchise's history does wonders when it comes to regaining that pride.

New Orleans Hornets: Paul Silas

Win-Loss Record: 208-155

Seasons: 1999-2003 (five seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Four

Championships: None

With the most wins in franchise history, the second-highest winning percentage (to Dave Cowens), the most playoff appearances and the second-highest playoff winning percentage (to Byron Scott), Paul Silas has to be the choice for this short-lived NBA franchise.

New York Knicks: Red Holzman

Win-Loss Record: 613-484

Seasons: 1968-1982 (14 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Nine

Championships: Two

This legendary New York Knicks coach led the Knickerbockers to their only two championships during his tremendous career. He has nearly twice as many victories as any other coach in New York lore, as well as the most playoff appearances.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Lenny Wilkens

Win-Loss Record: 478-402

Seasons: 1970-1985 (11 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Six

Championships: One

Although he coached back when the team was in Seattle, Lenny Wilkens remains the best coach in franchise history. After all, he's partially responsible for the team's sole title.

Orlando Magic: Stan Van Gundy

Win-Loss Record: 222-106

Seasons: 2008-2011 (four seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Four 

Championships: None

Stan Van Gundy's 67.7 percent winning percentage is astoundingly high. The fact that he's 4-for-4 in playoff appearances is impressive as well.

Philadelphia 76ers: Billy Cunningham

Win-Loss Record: 454-196

Seasons: 1978-1985 (eight seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Eight

Championships: One

The numbers speak for themselves here. No one can come close to matching either Billy Cunningham's total wins or the rate at which he earned them. Additionally, he's one of three men to coach the squad to a title, and he has more playoff appearances than anyone else eligible for this slide.

Phoenix Suns: John MacLeod

Win-Loss Record: 579-543

Seasons: 1974-1987 (14 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Nine

Championships: None

Even though John MacLeod may not have the highest winning percentage in franchise history, he did lead the Phoenix Suns to the playoffs four more times than anyone else en route to earning his 579 wins, which happen to be 238 more than anyone else in Phoenix history. If you're curious, only four coaches for the Suns have ever reached 238 wins.

Portland Trail Blazers: Jack Ramsay

Win-Loss Record: 453-367

Seasons: 1977-1986 (10 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Nine

Championships: One

Nine playoff appearances in 10 years and the franchise's only championship is a sure-fire way for Jack Ramsay to earn this spot.

Sacramento Kings: Rick Adelman

Win-Loss Record: 395-229

Seasons: 1999-2006 (eight seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Eight

Championships: None

Rick Adelman helped get the Sacramento Kings back on the map by reeling off eight consecutive playoff berths. Winning 63.3 percent of his games, more than any other coach in franchise history, and tallying up 395 victories—once again, more than any other coach in franchise history—Adelman truly deserves this spot.

San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich

Win-Loss Record: 797-383

Seasons: 1997-2011 (15 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: 14

Championships: Four

One of the all-time great coaches in the league's history, Gregg Popovich is by far the Spurs' best coach ever. After all, he has nearly five times as many wins as anyone else, 10 more playoff berths than anyone else and the franchise's only four championships.

Toronto Raptors: Lenny Wilkens

Win-Loss Record: 113-133

Seasons: 2001-2003 (three seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Two

Championships: None

Lenny Wilkens' second featured spot in this slideshow is just as deserved as his first. With the Toronto Raptors, he outshone every other coach by putting together the highest winning percentage (even though it's sub-.500) and advancing to the playoffs twice.

Sam Mitchell was also considered for this spot, but Wilkens' 8-9 playoff record is much better than Mitchell's 3-8 mark.

Utah Jazz: Jerry Sloan

Win-Loss Record: 1,127-682

Seasons: 1989-2011 (23 seasons)

Playoff Appearances: 19

Championships: None

Once the longest-tenured head coach in American professional sports, Jerry Sloan made such a name for himself with the Utah Jazz that I felt he was worth being called the all-time face of the Utah franchise.

Sloan is 850 wins ahead of second place on the Jazz leaderboard, and his 62.3 percent winning percentage is the only winning record of all the Jazz's coaches.

Washington Wizards: Dick Motta

Win-Loss Record: 185-143

Seasons: 1977-1980 (four seasons)

Playoff Appearances: Four

Championships: One

Dick Motta is only fourth when it comes to total wins among coaches of this franchise, currently known as the Washington Wizards. But only K.C. Jones can top his winning percentage.

Most importantly, though, Motta is not just the only man to lead the team to a winning record in the playoffs, but he's also the only one to win a championship.

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Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.

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