Edward Clayton 
It is hard ranking the best head coaches at the LA Lakers; however, some names stand out: Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Bill Sharman among others.When you talk about the most storied franchises in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Lakers top the list. The team has a legacy for its record wins including the 17 championships, legendary stars, and a tradition of excellence. Even in terms of its financial status, the team performs quite well rivaling some of the sports giants in the world.The Forbes Magazine’s current valuation of the Los Angeles Lakers puts it at $ 6.4 billion. Just like any team out there, the success of the Lakers is greatly attributed to the head coaches. Among other stakeholders, they have played a great role, guiding the team through periods of dominance as well as assisting in shaping the identity of the franchise.Any sports pundit will agree that ranking the Lakers head coaches is a difficult task, but some names stand out for their contribution to storied history. In this article, we feature the best Lakers head coaches.Phil Jackson: The Zen MasterA list of best Lakers coaches without Phil Jackson’s name will be highly challenged. It is impossible to ignore Phil Jackson, who is also referred to as the “Zen Master.”
Similar sentiments are expressed by Rich Bucher, a Fox Sports NBA analyst who described Jackson and Pit Riley as “the legend who prowled the sidelines and won multiple titles for purple and gold” Jackson’s stints at the Lakers were from 1999 to 2004, and from 2005 to 2011. It was under his leadership that the NBA team won five championships. That was precisely in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010. Players and fans know him as a calm and composed coach.Through his coaching tactics, he managed the egos of superstar players like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal leading them to three back-to-back titles in the early 2000s. During his second stint at the franchise, the legendary coach brought back the Lakers championships in 2009 and 2010, further solidifying his legacy and edging his name in the list of the greatest coaches in Lakers history.Pat RileyBefore Phil Jackson came and conquered the Lakers, there were defining moments of another legendary coach, that is Pat Riley. Riley, the man who led the franchise in two stints. Pundits describe his stints at the Lakers as Pat Riley winning time depicting how he took the team to great heights, and they even made a TV series about it.
Pat Riley’s stints at the Lakers, are characterized by high-flying basketball legends such as Magic Johnson, the man who many remember for his prowess in the field, Kareem Abdul and James; worthy players who made a name in the game and up to now are regarded as icons in the sports world. Riley’s style, where he demanded nothing short of excellence made him win the title of best coach in the Lakers.Bill SharmanA Lakers coach before Pat Riley by the name of Bill Sharman is believed to have played a significant role in transforming the franchise and perhaps shaping the way for future great coaches. He coached the team from 1971 to 1976 leading it to its first championship in Los Angeles in 1972.This is the season; the LA Lakers made a record that still stands to date- the unbelievable 33-game winning streak. Bill Sharman is known for his innovative coaching techniques, including the introduction of the morning shootaround concept, something that changed how teams prepared for games. Sharman had a great influence on the Lakers, successfully leading them to great heights.Frank VogelWith NBA commentators referring to Frank Vogel as a modern architect, the man who has been declared as one of the best Lakers head coaches in recent times has played a critical role in the team’s success.
Frank led the team to its 17th NBA championship in 2020, a move that saw them tie with the Boston Celtics as far as the league titles are concerned. Although his tenure at Lakers was shorter compared to other head coaches, his name is edged in the club’s history as a person who took it to greater heights.Other who have won spots among the franchise’s best head coaches include:
- John Kundla
- Abdul Kareem
- Paul Westhead
- Del Harris, among others
Ranking the Lakers’ best head coaches is a herculean task, given the team’s long history of success. However, some names stand out as the most influential personalities who together have helped the team to scale the heights.
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