Steve Kerr and Don Nelson Named to NBA's Top-15 Coaches of All-Time List
Tuesday night, the NBA released its complete list of the top 15 coaches of all time as voted on by a panel of 43 current and former NBA coaches. The list was headlined by Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Coach Steve Kerr. Additionally, former Warriors legendary head coach Don Nelson was named as one of the coaches on the coveted list. The list is yet another testament to the historic franchise we have all come to love so dearly, the Golden State Warriors.
Before recognizing all of the great work Kerr has done in the past eight years, it’s essential to pay homage to Don Nelson and all he did for our beloved franchise. Nelson had two stints as head coach of the dubs, one from 1988-1995 and 2006-2010. During his time with the Golden State, Nelson was responsible for taking the Warriors to the playoffs two times and earning coach of the year honors on three separate occasions. Nelson’s work with the Warriors helped implement a culture of grit and determination the franchise had been lacking for years that has since carried over into the Kerr era and helped contribute to multiple championships.
Having just eclipsed his 600th win as head coach of the Warriors, Kerr boasts a .694 winning average. Also, he has the highest winning average of any coach in the playoffs at .733. Truly remarkable from the Arizona alum, five-time NBA champion as a player, and three-time NBA champion as a coach. Simply put, the guy has one hell of a resume.
On Wednesday, during his pregame media availability, Kerr was asked about making the top-15 list:
”That was kind of shocking to see my name on that list. I played for three of those guys on the list, and it's always strange to see your name next to some people you played for because you don't necessarily look at your own coaches as peers."
As shocked as Kerr may have been to receive such high honor from his peers, he has undoubtedly proven himself as one of the greatest coaches of all time. In true Kerr fashion, his humility always shines through. Kerr continued, "But I also know it's a direct result of having incredible talent on our roster, and if you look at that list, pretty much every coach would agree that the reason they're on there is that they were blessed with great talent and were able to have success.”
Kerr's belief in his players is what has helped him rise to prominence throughout his tenure with the Warriors. His ability to understand that basketball is a team sport, and without all the pieces working in unison, there is no success. This philosophy was displayed when he was a player and is now being shown as a head coach.
Dub Nation should feel incredibly thankful not only to have had one of these coaches be a part of the Golden State Warriors franchise, but two of them. What Kerr has accomplished in such a short amount of time is nothing short of remarkable. The best part about it is that this run is far from being over as the Warriors look to be a top contender for this year's NBA championship.
(Photo credit: Gene Sweeney Jr. / Getty Images)