9 rookie coaches who will win an NBA title

Being a coach in the NBA is a ruthless job. Despite the enormous effort that goes into the job, a coach can remain as one whenever they get results. Although coaching in the NBA often requires experience and mastery, there are special occasions when a rookie NBA coach gets the job done by bringing a franchise an NBA title.

However, it is a rather rare occasion. There is optimism this year newly hired head coach of the Lakers and former NBA player JJ Redick will be the next coach to do so. But based on history, only a few have achieved that feat. Here’s a look at 9 rookie coaches who won an NBA title.

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Nick Nurse (2019 Toronto Raptors)

The last rookie coach to lead the team to The NBA championship was Nick Nurse in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. Coaching a Raptors team led by newly acquired Kawhi Leonard, the team swept the Eastern Conference, highlighted by The Claw’s dramatic game-winner.

Nurse also led the Raptors past the back-to-back NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, denying them a potential three-pointer. It was the Raptors’ first championship banner.

Tyronn Lue (2016 Cleveland Cavaliers)

David Blatt has done relatively well as the head coach of the Cavaliers, led by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. After making it to the NBA Finals in 2015, the Cavs were expected to make it back. They did, but only until the middle of the 2015-2016 season.

Blatt was then fired, leading to Tyronn Lue becoming the interim head coach. Despite having no coaching experience, Lue led the Cavs to the franchise’s first NBA championship at the expense of the Golden State Warriors 73-9. It’s worth noting that in the process, the Cavs made history as the first team to rally from a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit.

Steve Kerr (2015 Golden State Warriors)

The hiring of Steve Kerr was the missing piece of the puzzle to make the Golden State Warriors a legitimate title contender. After several seasons in purgatory, Kerr coached the Warriors to the 2014 NBA Championship.

Led by the Splash Brothers of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to go along with Draymond Green, the Warriors become a dynasty after that. The team coached by Kerr made five more trips to the NBA Finals, resulting in three more NBA titles.

Pat Riley (1982 Los Angeles Lakers)

After becoming a part of the 1972 Lakers championship team as a player, Pat Riley made a seamless transition to head coaching in the Purple and Gold. Midway through the season, with the firing of Paul Wested, Riley was tasked with leading a Lakers team led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Riley led the team to a 50-21 record the rest of the season before hoisting the trophy. Riley was the mastermind behind the establishment of the Showtime era.

Paul Washed (Los Angeles Lakers 1980)

Because of an injured Jack McKinney, who had a bicycle accident that landed him in the hospital, Paul Washed took over the Lakers for the rest of the 1979-1980 season.

Westhead went 50-18 with the Lakers before leading the Purple and Gold to a championship in his first year as head coach. The Lakers team included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and rookie Magic Johnson.

George Senesky (Philadelphia Warriors, 1956)

Not long after hanging up his basketball shoes with the Philadelphia Warriors, George Senesky immediately returned to the organization, but this time as the head coach. From the very beginning, Seneschi easily influenced the team, even as head coach. He helped the Warriors defeat the Fort Wayne Pistons in five games to emerge victorious in the 1956 NBA Finals.

John Kundla (Minneapolis Lakers 1949)

John Kundla was making waves in the college ranks before the newly formed franchise, the Minneapolis Lakers, came knocking. Surprisingly, Kundla initially rejected the offer. The Lakers upped the ante by doubling his salary, convincing the highly touted coach to take the job.

Fortunately, the wait paid off, as Kundla immediately went to work, helping the Lakers win the 1949 NBA Championship. After that, he led the franchise to four more championships.

Buddy Janet (1948 Baltimore Bullets)

Unlike the other coaches on this list, Buddy Jeannette actually won a championship as a player-coach for the Baltimore Bullets. Around this time, the league was still called the BAA. It was certainly an incredible feat for the player-coach.

Eddie Gottlieb (Philadelphia Warriors, 1947)

Before John Kundle, the man who coached the Philadelphia Warriors was Eddie Gottlieb. Like his player Kundla, Gottlieb became a champion coach in his first season. Gottlieb led the Warriors past the Chicago Stags in the final game between the rookie coaches.