The National Basketball Association (NBA) is often regarded as one of the most popular and intense basketball leagues in the world with a star-studded lineup of legendary NBA players including LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and many others, who have dominated opponent teams with their brutal assault moves on the court and have successfully led their teams to a spine-chilling streak of victories in the most crucial situations.
While the majority of basketball players who have managed to earn an enormous game and recognition for their successful exploits on the field remain limited to the world’s most prestigious basketball league, the National Basketball Association, only as a player, a few of these legendary players have gone ahead and transitioned their roles from players to coaches and have continued dictating their unmatched legacy on the court of NBA even after announcing their retirement from the league as players.
In this article we will take a look at the top four most iconic NBA players who turned into successful coaches after announcing their retirement as players.
Top 4 NBA Players Who Became Successful Coaches
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Phil Jackson
The legendary American former professional basketball player Phil Jackson is at the first spot in our list of the top four legendary NBA players who switched roles and became coaches after retirement. The 13-time NBA champion, Phil Jackson, played a total of twelve NBA seasons with two different teams, including the New York Knicks (1967-1978) and New Jersey Nets (1978-1980). Throughout his star-studded career in the National Basketball Association, the American basketball sensation Phil Jackson clinched two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks.
Phil Jackson announced his official retirement from the NBA as a player in 1980 and started off his coaching stint in 1987 as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls under Doug Collins. Throughout his coaching career, Phil Jackson was appointed as the head coach for the Chicago Bulls (1989–1998), leading the team to a record total of six championship titles in the years 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Also, Phil Jackson was appointed as the head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2004, 2005–2011), leading them to a phenomenal total of five championship titles in the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
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Lenny Wilkens
At the second spot on our list of the top four most iconic NBA players who turned into successful coaches after announcing their retirement as players, we have another iconic American professional basketball player, Lenny Wilkens. Often regarded as one of the greatest point guards in the history of the National Basketball Association, Lenny Wilkens played a total of fifteen seasons as a player for different teams, including St. Louis Hawks (1970-1968), Seattle SuperSonics (1968-1972), Cleveland Cavaliers (1972-1974) and Portland Trail Blazers (1974-1975) before announcing his retirement in 1965.
Shortly after announcing his retirement, Lenny Wilkens switched to coaching and was selected as the head coach for the Seattle SuperSonics (1969-1972). Later, Lenny Wilkens also coached numerous other NBA teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks, and successfully led the Seattle SuperSonics to the prestigious championship title in 1979.
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Pat Riley
Next, at the third spot on our list of the top four legendary NBA players who became coaches after retirement, we have American professional basketball executive, former coach, and former basketball player Patrick James Riley, often popularly referred to as “Pat Riley” in the world of professional basketball. Often hailed as one of the most dependable shooting guards in the history of the National Basketball Association, Pat Riley played for three different teams, including the San Diego Rockets (1967-1970), Los Angeles Lakers (1970-1975) and Phoenix Suns (1975-1976) throughout his NBA career.
Shortly after announcing his retirement from the NBA as a player in 1976, Pat Riley was selected as the head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 and successfully led the team to a record total of four championship titles in the years 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. A few years later, Riley was appointed as the head coach for the New York Knicks in 1991 and successfully led the team to the 1994 NBA Finals. Additionally, Riley also played a crucial role as a head coach in leading the Miami Heat to the championship title in 2006.
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Steve Kerr
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four most iconic NBA players who turned into successful coaches after announcing their retirement as players, we have the American former professional basketball player and current coach of the Golden State Warriors team of the National Basketball Association. Steve Kerr played a total of fifteen NBA seasons from 1988 to 2003 for numerous prominent teams before announcing his retirement in 2003.
A couple of years later in 2014, Steve Kerr made a roaring comeback into the National Basketball Association as the head coach for the Golden State Warriors and successfully led the team to a record total of four championship titles in the years 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. Out of all the seasons, Steve Kerr garnered immense praise and recognition in the NBA 2015-16 season for leading the Golden State Warriors to a record-breaking 73-triumph.
