List of National Basketball Association player-coaches

A black bearded elderly man wearing glasses looks toward the right
Bill Russell won two NBA championships as a player-coach of the Boston Celtics.

A player-coach is a member of team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties.[1] The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches or as assistant coaches. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there have been 40 players who also served as their teams' head coaches at the same time. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[2] The league adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).[3] After the salary cap was instituted in 1984–85 season,[4] the NBA has prohibited teams from employing a player-coach.[5] The ruling was established to avoid the possibility that a team would circumvent the cap by signing a player as a player-coach, as coaches' salaries are not counted under the cap.[6]

Ed Sadowski was the first player-coach in the league. In the BAA's inaugural season, he played for the Toronto Huskies and also served as the team's first head coach.[7] Buddy Jeannette was the first player-coach to win the championship; he won the 1948 BAA Finals with the Baltimore Bullets.[8] Bill Russell is the only other player-coach who has won the championship, as well as the only player-coach to win multiple championships. In 1966, he took over the Boston Celtics' head coaching duties from Red Auerbach, becoming the first African American head coach in the league.[9] He served as the Celtics' player-coach for three seasons, winning two consecutive NBA championships in 1968 and 1969.[10][11] Dave DeBusschere became the youngest head coach in the league's history when he was appointed as the Detroit Pistons' player-coach at the age of 24 in 1964.[12][13] He held the position for three seasons before returning to a full-time player in 1967.[14] Dave Cowens is the last player-coach in the league. He coached the Celtics in the 1978–79 season before relinquishing his coaching duty to focus on his playing career.[15]

Richie Guerin had coached 372 games as a player-coach, the most among the other player-coaches. He was the player-coach of the St. Louis / Atlanta Hawks for five seasons, from 1964 to 1967 and from 1968 to 1970. Before the 1967–68 season, he retired from playing to become a full-time head coach. However, he came back from retirement to play in the following two seasons while still serving as the Hawks' head coach.[16] Lenny Wilkens, who is in second place for highest number of games as a player-coach, was the only player-coach who has been employed by more than one team. He spent three seasons as the Seattle SuperSonics' player-coach and one season as the Portland Trail Blazers' player-coach.[17] He is the only player-coach who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.[18] Other than Wilkens, twelve player-coaches have been inducted as players while two player-coaches have been inducted as coaches. The Coach of the Year Award was never won by a player-coach.

Wilkens went on to become the longest-tenured head coach in the league. In addition to 4 seasons as a player-coach, he spent another 28 seasons as a head coach, winning an NBA championship in 1979.[19] San Francisco Warriors player-coach Al Attles retired from playing duty in 1971, but continued to coach the Warriors for another 12 seasons, leading them to an NBA championship in 1975.[20] Alex Hannum, Red Holzman and Kevin Loughery, who served as player-coaches for less than a season, had a lengthy coaching career in the NBA which lasted more than 10 seasons. Hannum spent 11 seasons as a full-time head coach, winning two NBA championships with two different teams.[21] Holzman coached the Hawks for 4 seasons, including a season as a player-coach, and the New York Knicks for 14 seasons. He led the latter to two NBA championships.[22] Loughery served as the head coach for six NBA teams during his 18-year coaching career, including a year as a player-coach.[23] Wilkens and Holzman were named among the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996.[24] Wilkens, along with Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Dave DeBusschere, Bob Pettit, Bill Russell and Dolph Schayes, were named to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, which was also announced at the league's 50th anniversary.[25]

Key

Yrs Number of years coached
G Games coached
W Wins
L Losses
Win% Winning percentage
^ Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player
* Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach
^* Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach

Player-coaches

Player-coach Team(s) played and coached Years[a] G W L Win% G W L Win% Championship(s) won[b] Honor(s) and award(s) won[c] Ref(s).
Regular season Playoffs
Guerin, RichieRichie Guerin^ St. Louis Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
19641967
19681970
372 199 173 .535 43 21 22 .488 None All-Star Game head coach (1969, 1970) [26][27][28][29]
Wilkens, LennyLenny Wilkens^* Seattle SuperSonics
Portland Trail Blazers
19691972
1974–1975
328 159 169 .485 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None All-Star (1969, 1971)
All-Star Game MVP (1971)
[19][30]
Seymour, PaulPaul Seymour Syracuse Nationals 19561960 279 155 124 .556 20 09 11 .450 None None [31][32]
Cervi, AlAl Cervi^ Syracuse Nationals 19491953 267 170 90 .637 27 13 14 .481 None All-NBA Team (1950)
All-Star Game head coach (1952)
[33][34][35]
Russell, BillBill Russell^ Boston Celtics 19661969 245 162 83 .661 46 28 16 .609 2 (1968, 1969) All-NBA Team (1968, 1969)
All-Defensive Team (1969)
All-Star (1967, 1968, 1969)
[36][37]
DeBusschere, DaveDave DeBusschere^ Detroit Pistons 19641967 222 79 143 .356 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None All-Star (1966, 1967) [38][39]
Jeannette, BuddyBuddy Jeannette^ Baltimore Bullets[d] 19471950 176 82 94 .466 15 10 05 .667 1 (1948) All-BAA Team (1948) [40][41]
Wanzer, BobbyBobby Wanzer^ Rochester Royals 19551957 144 62 82 .431 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None All-Star (1956)
All-Star Game head coach (1957)
[42][43][44]
Braun, CarlCarl Braun New York Knicks 19591961 127 40 87 .315 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [45][46]
Attles, AlAl Attles San Francisco Warriors 19701971 112 49 63 .438 05 01 04 .200 None None [20][47]
Cousy, BobBob Cousy^ Cincinnati Royals 1969–1970 82 36 46 .439 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [48][49]
Schayes, DolphDolph Schayes^ Philadelphia 76ers 1963–1964 80 34 46 .425 05 02 03 .400 None None [50][51]
Levane, AndrewAndrew Levane Milwaukee Hawks 1952–1953 71 27 44 .380 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [52][53]
Feerick, BobBob Feerick Washington Capitols 1949–1950 68 32 36 .471 02 00 02 .000 None None [54][55]
Cowens, DaveDave Cowens^ Boston Celtics 1978–1979 68 27 41 .397 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [56][57]
Macauley, EdEd Macauley^ St. Louis Hawks 1958–1959 62 43 19 .694 06 02 04 .333 None All-Star Game head coach (1959) [58][59][60]
Darden, JimmyJimmy Darden Denver Nuggets[e] 1949–1950 62 51 41 .177 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [61][62]
Lewis, GradyGrady Lewis St. Louis Bombers 1948–1949 60 29 31 .483 02 00 02 .000 None None [63][64]
Armstrong, CurlyCurly Armstrong Fort Wayne Pistons 1948–1949 54 22 32 .407 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [65][66]
Marshall, TomTom Marshall Cincinnati Royals 1958–1959 54 16 38 .296 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [67][68]
Todorovich, MikeMike Todorovich Tri-Cities Blackhawks 1950–1951 42 14 28 .333 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [69][70]
Leonard, BobbyBobby Leonard Chicago Zephyrs 1962–1963 42 13 29 .310 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [71][72]
McGuire, DickDick McGuire^ Detroit Pistons 1959–1960 41 17 24 .415 02 00 02 .000 None None [73][74]
Scolari, FredFred Scolari Baltimore Bullets[d] 1951–1952 39 12 27 .308 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None All-Star (1952) [75][76]
Schultz, HowieHowie Schultz Anderson Packers[f] 1949–1950 35 21 14 .600 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [77][78]
McKinney, BonesBones McKinney Washington Capitols 1950–1951 35 10 25 .286 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [79][80]
Shipp, CharleyCharley Shipp Waterloo Hawks[g] 1949–1950 35 8 27 .229 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [81][82]
Hannum, AlexAlex Hannum* St. Louis Hawks 1957 31 15 16 .484 12 08 04 .667 None None [21][83]
Loughery, KevinKevin Loughery Philadelphia 76ers 1973 31 5 26 .161 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [23][84]
Budko, WaltWalt Budko Baltimore Bullets[d] 1951 29 10 19 .345 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [85][86]
Hickey, NatNat Hickey Providence Steamrollers 1948 29 4 25 .138 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [87][88]
Smiley, JackJack Smiley Waterloo Hawks[g] 1950 27 11 16 .407 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [89][90]
Holzman, RedRed Holzman* Milwaukee Hawks 1954 26 10 16 .385 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [22][91]
Hale, BruceBruce Hale Indianapolis Jets 1948 17 4 13 .235 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [92][93]
Sadowski, EdEd Sadowski Toronto Huskies 1946 12 3 9 .250 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [94][95]
Martin, SlaterSlater Martin^ St. Louis Hawks 1957 8 5 3 .625 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None All-NBA Team (1957)
All-Star (1957)
[96][97]
Pettit, BobBob Pettit^ St. Louis Hawks 1962 6 4 2 .667 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None All-NBA Team (1962)
All-Star (1962)
All-Star Game MVP (1962)
[98][99]
Logan, JohnnyJohnny Logan Tri-Cities Blackhawks 1950 3 2 1 .667 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [100][101]
Fitzgerald, DickDick Fitzgerald Toronto Huskies 1946 3 2 1 .667 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [102][103]
Dischinger, TerryTerry Dischinger Detroit Pistons 1971 2 0 2 .000 -01 -01 -01 -.001 None None [104][105]

Notes

  • a Each year is linked to an article about that particular BAA / NBA season.
  • b Each year is linked to an article about the BAA / NBA Finals in that year.
  • c Each year is linked to an article about that particular BAA / NBA season or the NBA All-Star Game in that year.
  • d 1 2 3 The original Baltimore Bullets, who folded in 1954,[106] are not affiliated with the present-day Washington Wizards, who were known as the Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets from 1963 to 1997.[107]
  • e The original Denver Nuggets, who folded in 1950,[108] are not affiliated with the present-day Denver Nuggets, who were founded in 1967 as a member of American Basketball Association (ABA).[109]
  • f The Anderson Packers, who folded in 1950,[110] are not affiliated with the present-day Washington Wizards, who were known as the Chicago Packers from 1961 to 1962.[107]
  • g 1 2 The Waterloo Hawks, who folded in 1950,[111] are not affiliated with the present-day Atlanta Hawks, who were also known as the Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks from 1951 to 1968.[112]

References

  1. "Basketball U on NBA Coaching Styles". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. October 8, 2003. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  2. Goldaper, Sam. "The First Game". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  3. "1949–50 Season Overview: Powerful Lakers Repeat". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  4. "Salary Cap 101". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  5. Stein, Marc (October 29, 2004). "Johnson in line to replace Nelson". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  6. Coon, Larry. "NBA Salary Cap FAQ". Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  7. "Knickerbockers Open Season in Toronto Tonight". Nashua Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. November 1, 1946. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  8. "Baltimore Bursts Into Big Leagues". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  9. "Bill Russell Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  10. Flatter, Ron. "Russell was proud, fierce warrior". ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  11. "Chat Transcript: Celtics Legend Bill Russell". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 28, 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  12. "Dave DeBusschere Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  13. Meisel, Barry (February 7, 1995). "The Open Man Despite Stumbles After Success, DeBusschere's Still Standing Tall". Daily News. Daily News, L.P. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  14. Goldstein, Richard (May 14, 2003). "Dave DeBusschere, 62, Relentless Forward On Knicks' Championship Teams, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  15. "Dave Cowens Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  16. "Richie Guerin Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on February 11, 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  17. "Lenny Wilkens Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  18. "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  19. 1 2 "Lenny Wilkens Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  20. 1 2 "Al Attles Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  21. 1 2 "Alex Hannum Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  22. 1 2 "Red Holzman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  23. 1 2 "Kevin Loughery Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  24. "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  25. "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  26. "Richie Guerin Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  27. "Richie Guerin Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  28. "1969 NBA All-Star Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  29. "1970 NBA All-Star Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  30. "Lenny Wilkens Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  31. "Paul Seymour Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  32. "Paul Seymour Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  33. "Al Cervi Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  34. "Al Cervi Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  35. "1952 NBA All-Star Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  36. "Bill Russell Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  37. "Bill Russell Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  38. "Dave DeBusschere Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  39. "Dave DeBusschere Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  40. "Buddy Jeannette Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  41. "Buddy Jeannette Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  42. "Bobby Wanzer Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  43. "Bobby Wanzer Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  44. "1957 NBA All-Star Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  45. "Carl Braun Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  46. "Carl Braun Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  47. "Al Attles Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  48. "Bob Cousy Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  49. "Bob Cousy Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  50. "Dolph Schayes Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  51. "Dolph Schayes Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  52. "Andrew Levane Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  53. "Andrew Levane Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  54. "Bob Feerick Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  55. "Bob Feerick Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  56. "Dave Cowens Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  57. "Dave Cowens Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  58. "Ed Macauley Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  59. "Ed Macauley Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  60. "1959 NBA All-Star Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  61. "Jimmy Darden Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  62. "Jimmy Darden Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  63. "Grady Lewis Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  64. "Grady Lewis Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  65. "Curly Armstrong Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  66. "Curly Armstrong Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  67. "Mike Todorovich Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  68. "Mike Todorovich Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  69. "Tom Marshall Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  70. "Tom Marshall Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  71. "Slick Leonard Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  72. "Slick Leonard Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  73. "Dick McGuire Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  74. "Dick McGuire Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  75. "Fred Scolari Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  76. "Fred Scolari Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  77. "Howie Schultz Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  78. "Howie Schultz Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  79. "Bones McKinney Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  80. "Bones McKinney Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  81. "Charley Shipp Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  82. "Charley Shipp Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  83. "Alex Hannum Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  84. "Kevin Loughery Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  85. "Walt Budko Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  86. "Walt Budko Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  87. "Nat Hickey Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  88. "Nat Hickey Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  89. "Jack Smiley Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  90. "Jack Smiley Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  91. "Red Holzman Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  92. "Bruce Hale Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  93. "Bruce Hale Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  94. "Ed Sadowski Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  95. "Ed Sadowski Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  96. "Slater Martin Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  97. "Slater Martin Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  98. "Bob Pettit Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  99. "Bob Pettit Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  100. "John Logan Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  101. "John Logan Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  102. "Dick Fitzgerald Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  103. "Dick Fitzgerald Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  104. "Terry Dischinger Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  105. "Terry Dischinger Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  106. "Baltimore Bullets Franchise Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  107. 1 2 "Washington Wizards Franchise Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  108. "Denver Nuggets (1949–1950) Franchise Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  109. "Denver Nuggets Franchise Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  110. "Anderson Packers Franchise Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  111. "Waterloo Hawks Franchise Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  112. "Atlanta Hawks Franchise Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2010.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.