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Erik Spoelstra – Miami Heat
In his first six seasons as head coach, he has guided the Heat to six consecutive playoff appearances, including trips to the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 NBA Finals, winning the championship in both 2012 and 2013. That enough to me should have him top 5, but I just have him missing out. We will see what he does without King James. Here are some of Erik’s highlights as an NBA head coach.
2× NBA champion (2012–2013)
4× Eastern Conference champion (2011-2014)
NBA All-Star Game head coach (2013)
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Frank Vogel – Indiana Pacers
Since Vogel took over as head coach of the Pacers in 2011, they have always been at the top of the East. On April 7, 2013, the Pacers clinched their first Central Division title since the 2003–04 season. They finished the 2012–13 season with a 49–32 record, clinching the third seed in the Eastern Conference. In 2013 the Pacers brought the Heat all the way to the end before getting knocked off. In 2014, they repeated what they did the previous year being the #1 seed in the East. However, they again got beat by the Heat. Vogel is loved in Indiana and is known around the league as one of the top coaches in the league. In 2014 Vogel was the NBA All-Star Game head coach for the East.
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David Blatt – Cleveland Cavs
I know, he hasn’t done anything yet in the NBA. However, we all now he will be a household name in a few months, and in a few years he will probably have a title or two and will be mentioned as a top 3 coach in the game. Blatt is one of the most successful American coaches in European basketball history. You heard it from me first, he will do the same in the NBA. Here is what David has done as a head coach in Europe.
4× Israeli League Coach of the Year (1996, 2002, 2011, 2014)
6× Israeli Cup Champion (2002, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
5× Israeli League Champion (2002, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2014)
FIBA EuroChallenge Champion (2005)
Russian Super League Coach of the Year (2005)
Italian League Champion (2006)
Italian Cup Champion (2007)
Adriatic League Champion (2012)
Russian Federation Order of Friendship award recipient (2014)
Euroleague champion (2014)
Euroleague Coach of the Year (2014)
