Best player to become a top 20 coach in the NBA

[penbeast0]

As we approach the last quarter of the top 100 list, I was wondering if any of our top 100 players would also make the list of the top 20 coaches of all time (top 100/5 since there are 5 players playing at any time). For executives, there is Jerry West (though for every Jerry West there are a number of Michael Jordans) but for coaches?

My best candidate is Bill Sharman. Any coaches I forgot about? Any execs who would be top 100 as players and top 20 as Executives other than West?

[AEnigma]

Any execs who would be top 100 as players and top 20 as Executives other than West?

Larry Bird and Joe Dumars are the only other serious candidates to come to mind.

As we approach the last quarter of the top 100 list, I was wondering if any of our top 100 players would also make the list of the top 20 coaches of all time (top 100/5 since there are 5 players playing at any time). For executives, there is Jerry West (though for every Jerry West there are a number of Michael Jordans) but for coaches?

My best candidate is Bill Sharman. Any coaches I forgot about?

Larry Bird also comes to mind here, but length of time is certainly disqualifying for top 20.

Lenny Wilkens should be mentioned alongside Sharman. Not sure he tops Sharman as a player, but also not sure Sharman tops him. Tommy Heinsohn has historically fared well on top 100 lists, although today he might be an uncommon inclusion.

[DraymondGold]

Jerry west absolutely for executives.

Bird had a very solid coaching peak for a retired player. Coach of the year, great coaching multi-year WOWY change from 1997 to 1998 when he joined and from 2000 to 2001 when he left (though multi-year WOWY is super noisy), great coaching RAPM in the other thread I just posted in... he's ranked 7th since 1997 (also super noisy). Bird also had plenty of good reports about him in sports articles, and on film there were some nice off-ball actions for Miller (credit of course goes to Miller too, but it's nice to have a coach that's able to support an off-ball star). Some good playoff performances, pushing the 98 Bulls to 7 games and getting to the finals in 2000. Fits really well with his reputation as being one of the smartest players ever.

Alas, we never got to see him stay as a coach for longer. I would have loved to see him as a long-time NBA coach!

[penbeast0]

I'd take Sharman over Wilkens and Heinsohn for both playing and coaching though Lenny has longevity and Heinsohn has the best RS record and had his coaching success in the NBA while Sharman's was half ABA, half NBA. But Heinsohn only won with the one core group while the others won with different personnel.

Bird might have had continued success or he might have been Bill Russell who won 2 titles in 3 years in Boston but was unable to keep it going in Seattle.

[Dr Positivity]

I think Cunningham and Sharman are probably the best picks, Cunningham has made the top 100 the last 2 votes while Sharman hasn't, although not sure if I'd personally agree with that. Sharman has better coach resume due to ABA. I'd have Heinsohn ranked higher than Cunningham as a coach but not too close to top 100 as a player. Wilkens is probably not miles away from the top 100 as a player though he hasn't made it since 2008.

Sharman would be in top 20 execs as well.

[eminence]

With heavier NBL weighting I could see an outside case for Cervi. I believe when counting his NBL season he's ~25th all-time in games above .500 for coaches.

[AEnigma]

I think Cunningham and Sharman are probably the best picks. Sharman would be in top 20 execs as well.

Good mentions. Overlooked Cunningham for coaches and Sharman for executives.

[XTC]

Bill Russell only coached 8 seasons, but won 2 championships as a coach with Boston, and coached Seattle to their first ever playoff birth.

[wojoaderge]

Bill Russell only coached 8 seasons, but won 2 championships as a coach with Boston, and coached Seattle to their first ever playoff birth.

He has also made a worst coaches of all time list (Sporting News, 1997, poll of some writers)

[CumberlandPosey]

Very very olskoolism but joe lapchick has to be mentioned.wont make any players list due to him playing a totally different Basketball sport.he nevertheless has to be considered as one of the games greatest and he was a fantastic nba coach.he coached the knicks to three or four consecutive finals and was seen as innovative as coach as well as player.true legend...

[Cavsfansince84]

KC Jones, Don Nelson and Heinsohn are probably all worth mentions.

[penbeast0]

KC Jones, Don Nelson and Heinsohn are probably all worth mentions.

Are any of them possibilities that you would consider a top 100 player in the NBA? Nelson does have a real shot at top 20 GOAT NBA coaches though, he was reasonably successful and extremely innovative. He even coached some good defenses though I don't remember him playing much defense himself.

[Cavsfansince84]

KC Jones, Don Nelson and Heinsohn are probably all worth mentions.

Are any of them possibilities that you would consider a top 100 player in the NBA? Nelson does have a real shot at top 20 GOAT NBA coaches though, he was reasonably successful and extremely innovative. He even coached some good defenses though I don't remember him playing much defense himself.

Probably not now. Just felt like giving them a mention given the topic for this thread of guys who excelled as players and coaches.

[penbeast0]

That's cool, it does who how few really top players went on to further basketball success after they retired. Certainly many have been given chances but few have panned out.

[Dr Positivity]

For non top 100 players I'm in the middle of a ranking players by position project and I have Larry Costello as a top 2 PG for 4 straight years from 58-61. Not bad, albeit I wouldn't call him a top 20 coach of all time since Oscar was probably as much the real coach when he got there. Maybe a different set of challenges though like how to keep them interested/happy. Then Rudy T deserves HM as well of course.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

D'Antoni might be top5 in the Italian League both as a coach and as a player