To win in the NBA, you certainly need talent on the court. Basketball is one of the few sports where
To win in the NBA, you certainly need talent on the court. Basketball is one of the few sports where one player can take over and carry a team to great heights. However, poor coaching can counter the efforts of even the best players.
That is why having an elite mind leading the bench can be the difference between a lottery team and a title contender. With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 10 NBA coaches heading into the 2025-26 season.
10. JB Bickerstaff
JB Bickerstaff took a 22-50 Cleveland Cavaliers team and made them a perennial playoff contender for three straight seasons. Sure, getting Donovan Mitchell was a big help, but the coach made the Cavs a top-five team in the East. Somehow, he got fired despite the success, and immediately took a Detroit Pistons team that had one of the worst records of all-time and almost had them win a series in the 2025 playoffs. It took some time, but he has proven why he is one of the best in the game.
- JB Bickerstaff Record: 299-328
9. Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and was long viewed as a player-coach in the final years of his career. However, his first five seasons as a head coach in the NBA delivered middle-of-the-road results. It wasn’t until he got back to Dallas and put his hands on Luka Doncic that he really soared as a head coach.
He is 30 games over .500 in Dallas and led them to a Finals trip in 2024. Ahead of his 10th year as a head coach, Kidd now seems to be hitting his stride.
- Jason Kidd Record: 362-339
8. Chris Finch
Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch worked his way up through the assistant ranks and made stops with four different teams before getting his first head coaching gig in 2020. He and young superstar Anthony Edwards have been a dynamic duo in turning Minny into an elite team out West. Finch wouldn’t be as successful without Edwards, and Edwards doesn’t reach the West Finals two years in a row without his coach’s brilliance.
- Chris Finch Record: 209-160
7. Joe Mazzulla
Many NBA experts were surprised when the Celtics replaced Ime Udoka with assistant Joe Mazzulla. However, Brad Stevens and his team knew he was a hidden gem, and Mazzulla has proven them right ever since. He had big shoes to fill and massive expectations with a fantastic Celtics roster, and won a championship in his second season. Boston will likely be a perennial playoff contender for the next decade because of Mazzulla, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown.
- Joe Mazzulla Record: 182-64
6. Ty Lue
Many overlooked Ty Lue’s success in getting to three straight NBA Finals with the Cavs. However, his run with the Los Angeles Clippers over the last five years has proven why he is among the best NBA coaches right now. His ability to keep LA constantly competitive despite management investing in injury-prone stars is impressive. One has to wonder if he could have won another title if Paul George and Kawhi Leonard weren’t always injured during the playoffs.
- Ty Lue Record: 352-249
5. Ime Udoka
After a lengthy run under the learning tree of coaching icon Gregg Popovich, Ime Udoka has done nothing but win in his three seasons as a head coach. He took the Boston Celtics to the East Finals three years ago. Got fired for improper activities with team staff, and is now developing a new powerhouse with the Houston Rockets. The coach is only 48 and is in the early stages of what could be a legendary career.
- Ime Udoka Record: 144-102
4. Mark Daigneault
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault isn’t among the 10 best NBA coaches in 2025-26 just because his team is the defending champions. The 2023-24 Coach of the Year deserves a huge amount of credit for taking a team in a rebuild, helping to identify high-level talent, developing them with his staff, and turning the roster into the best in the game, while being one of the youngest. Daigneault had developed a potential dynasty from the ground up and with few additions from other teams.
- Mark Daigneault Record: 211-189
3. Steve Kerr
Many NBA experts didn’t believe Steve Kerr was the right guy to take over a Golden State Warriors team on the rise. Boy, were they so wrong. He led the team to an NBA title in his debut season, then won two more in three of the next four years. Kerr went to the West Finals in his first five seasons and is the leader of the NBA’s most recent dynasty team. The 60-year-old is basketball royalty.
- Steve Kerr Record: 567-308
2. Rick Carlisle
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is one of the best in his field during the 21st century. Over 23 years as a head coach in the NBA, he has only had six losing seasons. He has taken his teams to the playoffs 16 times, has made two trips to the Finals (including in 2025), and led the Dallas Mavericks to their first championship in 2011. He is the most experienced coach in the league right now.
- Rick Carlisle Record: 993-860
1. Erik Spoelstra
Erik Spoelstra is one of the great rags-to-riches coaching stories. The Miami Heat coach never played in the league, but went from being a lowly video coordinator to being an assistant on the bench, to one of Pat Riley’s greatest coaching successes. Over 17 seasons as a head coach, he has had just three losing seasons, led his teams to the playoffs 14 times, has four finals trips on his resume, and two championships. Spoelstra is a fantastic coach.
- Erik Spoelstra Record: 787-572
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