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The 'Losing coach from every NBA Finals' quiz
Photo by Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The 'Losing coach from every NBA Finals' quiz

Created on June 24, 2025  |  Total tries: 83  |  Average Score: 35.1 out of 76  (46%)  |  Quiz FAQ   

The Indiana Pacers and head coach Rick Carlisle may have fallen just short of their goal of an NBA Championship, but their 2025 playoff run should still be remembered as one of the most impressive ever. 

After making the playoffs as the six seed in the Eastern Conference, furious rallies capped off by miraculous moments from Tyrese Haliburton & Co. got the Pacers through the Bucks, top-seeded Cavaliers and New York Knicks and to Game 7 of the NBA Finals. 

Which brings us to today's quiz. How many of the NBA head coaches to lose in the NBA Finals can you name in seven minutes?

Good luck!

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Quiz Clue: Year / Team  |  Created on June 24, 2025  |  Total tries: 83  |  Average Score: 35.1 out of 76  (46%)  |  Quiz FAQ   
SCORE:
0/76
TIME:
7:00
2025 / IND
Rick Carlisle
2024 / DAL
Jason Kidd
2023 / MIA
Erik Spoelstra
2022 / BOS
Ime Udoka
2021 / PHX
Monty Williams
2020 / MIA
Erik Spoelstra
2019 / GSW
Steve Kerr
2018 / CLE
Tyronn Lue
2017 / CLE
Tyronn Lue
2016 / GSW
Steve Kerr
2015 / CLE
David Blatt
2014 / MIA
Erik Spoelstra
2013 / SA
Gregg Popovich
2012 / OKC
Scotty Brooks
2011 / MIA
Erik Spoelstra
2010 / BOS
Doc Rivers
2009 / ORL
Stan Van Gundy
2008 / LAL
Phil Jackson
2007 / CLE
Mike Brown
2006 / DAL
Avery Johnson
2005 / DET
Larry Brown
2004 / LAL
Phil Jackson
2003 / NJ
Byron Scott
2002 / NJ
Byron Scott
2001 / PHI
Larry Brown
2000 / IND
Larry Bird
1999 / NYK
Jeff Van Gundy
1998 / UTAH
Jerry Sloan
1997 / UTAH
Jerry Sloan
1996 / SEA
George Karl
1995 / ORL
Brian Hill
1994 / NYK
Pat Riley
1993 / PHX
Paul Westphal
1992 / POR
Rick Adelman
1991 / LAL
Mike Dunleavy
1990 / POR
Rick Adelman
1989 / LAL
Pat Riley
1988 / DET
Chuck Daly
1987 / BOS
K.C. Jones
1986 / HOU
Bill Fitch
1985 / BOS
K.C. Jones
1984 / LAL
Pat Riley
1983 / LAL
Pat Riley
1982 / PHI
Billy Cunningham
1981 / HOU
Del Harris
1980 / PHI
Billy Cunningham
1979 / WAS
Dick Motta
1978 / SEA
Lenny Wilkens
1977 / PHI
Gene Shue
1976 / PHX
John MacLeod
1975 / WAS
K.C. Jones
1974 / MIL
Larry Costello
1973 / LAL
Bill Sharman
1972 / NYK
Red Holzman
1971 / WAS
Gene Shue
1970 / LAL
Joe Mullaney
1969 / LAL
Butch Van Breda Kolff
1968 / LAL
Butch Van Breda Kolff
1967 / SFW
Bill Sharman
1966 / LAL
Fred Schaus
1965 / LAL
Fred Schaus
1964 / GSW
Alex Hannum
1963 / LAL
Fred Schaus
1962 / LAL
Fred Schaus
1961 / STL
Paul Seymour
1960 / STL
Ed Macauley
1959 / MPLS
John Kundla
1958 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1957 / STL
Alex Hannum
1956 / FTW
Charles Eckman
1955 / FTW
Charles Eckman
1954 / SYR
Al Cervi
1953 / NYK
Joe Lapchick
1952 / NYK
Joe Lapchick
1951 / NYK
Joe Lapchick
1950 / SYR
Al Cervi

Tommy Fradenburg is a freelance writer and an alumni of UNC Chapel Hill currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He religiously follows his favorite teams The New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys (yes, he knows) as well as his alma mater the Tar Heels and West Ham United F.C. in the Premier League. See more of his work on Twitter @tommyfradenburg.

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