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The 'NBA Finals-winning coaches' quiz
Photo by Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The 'NBA Finals-winning coaches' quiz

The New York Knicks raised some eyebrows when they fired Tom Thibodeau and hired Mike Brown after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last year. 

Before 2025-26, Brown had only ever reached the NBA Finals once, back in 2007 with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2012-13 he was infamously fired by the Lakers just five games into the season and his most recent gig with the Sacramento Kings ended 31 games into his final season. 

But after just one season with the Knickerbockers, Brown was able to do something nobody has done in 53 years and win the Larry O’Brien trophy. He led the Knicks to a 53-29 record in the regular season to finish third in the Eastern Conference. While they fell into a 2-1 hole in the first round against Atlanta, they went on to win 13 straight games and 15 of their last 16. In the Finals he helped them stay composed and rally from double-digit deficits in each of their four wins against the San Antonio Spurs to win the title. 

Which brings us to today’s quiz. How many of the head coaches to win an NBA championship can you name in six minutes? 

Good luck!

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SCORE:
0/77
TIME:
6:00
2026 / NYK
Mike Brown
2025 / OKC
Mark Daigneault
2024 / BOS
Joe Mazzulla
2023 / DEN
Michael Malone
2022 / GSW
Steve Kerr
2021 / MIL
Mike Budenholzer
2020 / LAL
Frank Vogel
2019 / TOR
Nick Nurse
2018 / GSW
Steve Kerr
2017 / GSW
Steve Kerr
2016 / CLE
Tyronn Lue
2015 / GSW
Steve Kerr
2014 / SA
Gregg Popovich
2013 / MIA
Erik Spoelstra
2012 / MIA
Erik Spoelstra
2011 / DAL
Rick Carlisle
2010 / LAL
Phil Jackson
2009 / LAL
Phil Jackson
2008 / BOS
Doc Rivers
2007 / SA
Gregg Popovich
2006 / MIA
Pat Riley
2005 / SA
Gregg Popovich
2004 / DET
Larry Brown
2003 / SA
Gregg Popovich
2002 / LAL
Phil Jackson
2001 / LAL
Phil Jackson
2000 / LAL
Phil Jackson
1999 / SA
Gregg Popovich
1998 / CHI
Phil Jackson
1997 / CHI
Phil Jackson
1996 / CHI
Phil Jackson
1995 / HOU
Rudy Tomjanovich
1994 / HOU
Rudy Tomjanovich
1993 / CHI
Phil Jackson
1992 / CHI
Phil Jackson
1991 / CHI
Phil Jackson
1990 / DET
Chuck Daly
1989 / DET
Chuck Daly
1988 / LAL
Pat Riley
1987 / LAL
Pat Riley
1986 / BOS
K.C. Jones
1985 / LAL
Pat Riley
1984 / BOS
K.C. Jones
1983 / PHI
Billy Cunningham
1982 / LAL
Pat Riley
1981 / BOS
Bill Fitch
1980 / LAL
Paul Westhead
1979 / SEA
Lenny Wilkens
1978 / WAS
Dick Motta
1977 / POR
Jack Ramsay
1976 / BOS
Tom Heinsohn
1975 / GSW
Al Attles
1974 / BOS
Tom Heinsohn
1973 / NYK
Red Holzman
1972 / LAL
Bill Sharman
1971 / MIL
Larry Costello
1970 / NYK
Red Holzman
1969 / BOS
Bill Russell
1968 / BOS
Bill Russell
1967 / PHI
Alex Hannum
1966 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1965 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1964 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1963 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1962 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1961 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1960 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1959 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1958 / STL
Alex Hannum
1957 / BOS
Red Auerbach
1956 / PHW
George Senesky
1955 / SYR
Al Cervi
1954 / MPLS
John Kundla
1953 / MPLS
John Kundla
1952 / MPLS
John Kundla
1951 / ROC
Les Harrison
1950 / MPLS
John Kundla

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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