Well, since its inception in 1946, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has been one of the most popular and prominent basketball leagues in the world, religiously followed by millions of basketball aficionados from all over the world. The glorious history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which spans over decades, has witnessed numerous legendary players and coaches who have led their teams to a dominating streak of victories.
From Dennis Rodman to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the ever competitive arena of the National Basketball Association has been a witness to numerous legendary coaches who have undoubtedly given their years of valuable experience and hard work in order to lead their respective teams to the ultimate championship titles. Have you ever wondered about the NBA coaches who have held the maximum number of championship titles? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four most iconic NBA coaches who have held the highest number of championship titles as of 2025.
Top 4 Coaches With Most NBA Championship Titles
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Phil Jackson – 11 Titles
The legendary American former professional basketball player and coach, Phil Jackson, is at the first spot in our list of the top four coaches who have clinched the highest number of championship titles as of 2025. Phil Jackson played a total of twelve NBA seasons between 1967 and 1980 before announcing his official retirement at the end of 1980. Surprisingly, just a couple of years later the American basketball sensation Phil Jackson transitioned into coaching and was selected as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1989 and successfully led the squad to a phenomenal total of six NBA championship titles in the years 1991–1993, 1996–1998.
Additionally, Phil Jackson was also appointed as the head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999, where he successfully led the team to three consecutive championship titles in the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 and also coached numerous legendary basketball players, including Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
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Red Auerbach – 9 Titles
At the second spot in our list of the top four most iconic NBA coaches who have held the highest number of championship titles as of 2025, we have another American former professional basketball player and coach, Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach, popularly referred to as “Red Auerbach” in the world of professional basketball. After playing college basketball at George Washington University (1937–1940), Red Auerbach transitioned into coaching and was selected as the head coach of the Boston Celtics in 1950.
Red Auerbach remained the coach of the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1966 and successfully led the team to a phenomenal total of nine championship titles throughout his coaching stint, which continues to be the second-highest number of championship titles ever claimed by an NBA coach as of 2025.
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Gregg Popovich – 5 Titles
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four most iconic NBA coaches who have held the highest number of championship titles as of 2025, we have the trailblazing American professional basketball executive and former coach who is currently the president of the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association.
Often popularly referred to as “Coach Pop”, Gregg Popovich was appointed as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs in 1996 and continued with his coaching stint for a record total of twenty-nine seasons, making him the longest-serving coach for a single team in the history of the National Basketball Association. Throughout his coaching stint, Gregg Popovich successfully led the San Antonio Spurs to a phenomenal total of five championship titles in the years 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, ranking him at the third spot on our list.
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Steve Kerr – 4 Titles
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four coaches who have clinched the highest number of championship titles as of 2025, we have the legendary American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association, Steve Kerr. Often hailed as one of the greatest and most accurate three-point shooters in the history of the NBA, Steve Kerr announced his official retirement from the National Basketball Association as a player after the 2002–03 NBA season, clinching the championship title with the Spurs.
Shortly after his retirement, Steve Kerr was appointed as the head coach for the Golden State Warriors in 2014 and successfully led the team to a phenomenal total of four championship titles in the years 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
