Top 10 Coaches in NBA History (#1-5)

Remember when the NBA did their 50 Greatest Players back in 1996 as part of their NBA 50^th Anniversary celebration? As part of that celebration, the NBA also selected by committee what it believed was a list of the top 10 coaches in league history. But how accurate was that list? By today's standards, would that list be incredibly different? It's time to take a look at which head coaches have earned the right to be known as the top coaches in NBA history. Apologies to names like Jerry Sloan and K.C. Jones, but these guys are at the top of the class. These are the top 5 coaches in NBA history.

5.) Chuck Daly
Career Record (regular season): 638-437 (.593)
Career Record (postseason): 75-51 (.595)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1981-1982 - 41 games), Detroit Pistons (1983-1992), New Jersey Nets (1992-1994), Orlando Magic (1997-1999)
No. Of Seasons: 14 seasons
Postseason Appearances: 12
NBA Championships: 2 (1989, 1990)

Notes: Although there are some other coaches who were on the bottom half of this top 10 that might have the better overall coaching numbers, there is no denying the effect and the accomplishments of Chuck Daly. Dubbed "Daddy Rich" by former player John Salley (because of his custom of wearing fancy suits during games), Daly made the most out of defining "Bad Boy" basketball and dominating the Eastern Conference at a time when it was highly a run and gun game.

Back-to-back championships at the end of the 80's really cemented his achievements and really bridged the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era over this rough-nosed, grind it out game that the Pistons played at their peak. They beat up on teams like those Bird-led Celtics and a young Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls and went on to create a new attitude. And that attitude was very evident in the demeanor of their coach on and off the court. Daly taught the Pistons to be tougher and to work harder. In each of his nine seasons in Detroit, Daly led the Pistons to the playoffs.