Patrick Ewing: Debunking Myth That NBA Legends Make Poor Head Coaches
By Issacc Cearc
One of the most repeated myths in the NBA is great players make poor coaches. It’s felt great players grow too frustrated with players with limited skills and their inability to play to the legends’ standards. With the general apathy in hiring legends as coaches, legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Patrick Ewing have spent years as assistants unable to be head coaches. In NBA history there have been legends that have proven their worth as coach, and maybe one team will reap the rewards by taking a chance on a Patrick Ewing. This article looks back on former greats who became great coaches.
Bill Sharman
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Lg | Tm | G | W | L | W-L% | W > .500 | Finish | G | W | L | W-L% | Notes |
| 1966-67 | 40 | NBA | SFW | 81 | 44 | 37 | .543 | 3.5 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 6 | .600 | |
| 1967-68 | 41 | NBA | SFW | 82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 2.0 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 6 | .400 | |
| 1968-69 | 42 | ABA | LAS | 78 | 33 | 45 | .423 | -6.0 | 5 | |||||
| 1969-70 | 43 | ABA | LAS | 84 | 43 | 41 | .512 | 1.0 | 4 | 17 | 10 | 7 | .588 | |
| 1970-71 | 44 | ABA | UTS | 84 | 57 | 27 | .679 | 15.0 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | .667 | ABA Champions |
| 1971-72 | 45 | NBA | LAL | 82 | 69 | 13 | .841 | 28.0 | 1 | 15 | 12 | 3 | .800 | NBA Champions |
| 1972-73 | 46 | NBA | LAL | 82 | 60 | 22 | .732 | 19.0 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 8 | .529 | WC Champions |
| 1973-74 | 47 | NBA | LAL | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 6.0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | |
| 1974-75 | 48 | NBA | LAL | 82 | 30 | 52 | .366 | -11.0 | 5 | |||||
| 1975-76 | 49 | NBA | LAL | 82 | 40 | 42 | .488 | -1.0 | 4 | |||||
| Career | TOT | 819 | 466 | 353 | .569 | 56.5 | 97 | 57 | 40 | .588 | ||||
| NBA | 573 | 333 | 240 | .581 | 46.5 | 62 | 35 | 27 | .565 | |||||
| ABA | 246 | 133 | 113 | .541 | 10.0 | 35 | 22 | 13 | .629 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/23/2013.
During his playing career on the Celtics, Sharman was considered to be half of the greatest backcourt in NBA history during the 50’s alongside Bob Cousy. Sharman retired once it was clear that he would not be able to coach the Celtics and went to the new ABL. As a player/coach Sharman coached the LA Jets to a 24-15 record before the Jets disbanded during the season. Sharman then went to the NBA where he led the surprising San Francisco Warriors to a Finals appearance in 1967. The Warriors were poised to be the league’s next dynasty but Rick Barry jumped to the ABA in the summer of ’67. Sharman would join the ABA in 1968 as well winning an ABA title in 1971 with the Utah Stars. Sharman would join the Lakers the very next season leading the Lakers to their 1st title in Los Angeles in 1972. Sharman revolutionized the pro game as a coach by instituting the practice of the morning shootaround. Sharman is in the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.
Lenny Wilkens
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Lg | Tm | G | W | L | W-L% | W > .500 | Finish | G | W | L | W-L% | Notes |
| 1969-70 | 32 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 36 | 46 | .439 | -5.0 | 5 | |||||
| 1970-71 | 33 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | -3.0 | 4 | |||||
| 1971-72 | 34 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 6.0 | 3 | |||||
| 1974-75 | 37 | NBA | POR | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | -3.0 | 3 | |||||
| 1975-76 | 38 | NBA | POR | 82 | 37 | 45 | .451 | -4.0 | 5 | |||||
| 1977-78 | 40 | NBA | SEA | 60 | 42 | 18 | .700 | 12.0 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 9 | .591 | WC Champions |
| 1978-79 | 41 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11.0 | 1 | 17 | 12 | 5 | .706 | NBA Champions |
| 1979-80 | 42 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 56 | 26 | .683 | 15.0 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | .467 | |
| 1980-81 | 43 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 34 | 48 | .415 | -7.0 | 6 | |||||
| 1981-82 | 44 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11.0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | |
| 1982-83 | 45 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 7.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | |
| 1983-84 | 46 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 1.0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |
| 1984-85 | 47 | NBA | SEA | 82 | 31 | 51 | .378 | -10.0 | 4 | |||||
| 1986-87 | 49 | NBA | CLE | 82 | 31 | 51 | .378 | -10.0 | 6 | |||||
| 1987-88 | 50 | NBA | CLE | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 1.0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |
| 1988-89 | 51 | NBA | CLE | 82 | 57 | 25 | .695 | 16.0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |
| 1989-90 | 52 | NBA | CLE | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 1.0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |
| 1990-91 | 53 | NBA | CLE | 82 | 33 | 49 | .402 | -8.0 | 6 | |||||
| 1991-92 | 54 | NBA | CLE | 82 | 57 | 25 | .695 | 16.0 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 8 | .529 | |
| 1992-93 | 55 | NBA | CLE | 82 | 54 | 28 | .659 | 13.0 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 6 | .333 | |
| 1993-94 | 56 | NBA | ATL | 82 | 57 | 25 | .695 | 16.0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | .455 | |
| 1994-95 | 57 | NBA | ATL | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 1.0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | |
| 1995-96 | 58 | NBA | ATL | 82 | 46 | 36 | .561 | 5.0 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 6 | .400 | |
| 1996-97 | 59 | NBA | ATL | 82 | 56 | 26 | .683 | 15.0 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 6 | .400 | |
| 1997-98 | 60 | NBA | ATL | 82 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 9.0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | |
| 1998-99 | 61 | NBA | ATL | 50 | 31 | 19 | .620 | 6.0 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 6 | .333 | |
| 1999-00 | 62 | NBA | ATL | 82 | 28 | 54 | .341 | -13.0 | 7 | |||||
| 2000-01 | 63 | NBA | TOR | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 6.0 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 6 | .500 | |
| 2001-02 | 64 | NBA | TOR | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 1.0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |
| 2002-03 | 65 | NBA | TOR | 82 | 24 | 58 | .293 | -17.0 | 7 | |||||
| 2003-04 | 66 | NBA | NYK | 42 | 23 | 19 | .548 | 2.0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .000 | |
| 2004-05 | 67 | NBA | NYK | 39 | 17 | 22 | .436 | -2.5 | 5 | |||||
| Career | NBA | 2487 | 1332 | 1155 | .536 | 88.5 | 178 | 80 | 98 | .449 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/23/2013.
Wilkens was a 9-time NBA All-Star as a player and began his coaching career while he was still an All-Star with Seattle in 1969. As a player/coach Wilkens never made the playoffs, but his team record improved every year in Seattle. After his retirement as a player Wilkens returned to Seattle during the 1977-78 season and had his most successful years. Wilkens led the surprising Sonics to a Finals berth in 1978 and a championship in 1979. Wilkens coached until 2005, winning NBA coach of the year in 1994 with Atlanta. Wilkens was the only player named to the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list and 10 Greatest Coaches list in 1996. Wilkens is in the Hall of Fame as both player and coach.
Billy Cunningham
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Lg | Tm | G | W | L | W-L% | W > .500 | Finish | G | W | L | W-L% | Notes |
| 1977-78 | 34 | NBA | PHI | 76 | 53 | 23 | .697 | 15.0 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 4 | .600 | |
| 1978-79 | 35 | NBA | PHI | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 6.0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 4 | .556 | |
| 1979-80 | 36 | NBA | PHI | 82 | 59 | 23 | .720 | 18.0 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | .667 | EC Champions |
| 1980-81 | 37 | NBA | PHI | 82 | 62 | 20 | .756 | 21.0 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 7 | .563 | |
| 1981-82 | 38 | NBA | PHI | 82 | 58 | 24 | .707 | 17.0 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 9 | .571 | EC Champions |
| 1982-83 | 39 | NBA | PHI | 82 | 65 | 17 | .793 | 24.0 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 1 | .923 | NBA Champions |
| 1983-84 | 40 | NBA | PHI | 82 | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11.0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |
| 1984-85 | 41 | NBA | PHI | 82 | 58 | 24 | .707 | 17.0 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 5 | .615 | |
| Career | NBA | 650 | 454 | 196 | .698 | 129.0 | 105 | 66 | 39 | .629 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/23/2013.
Cunningham was a former ABA MVP and 5-time NBA/ABA All-Star as a player. He took over as the Sixers head coach with no previous coaching experience in 1977. As a head coach Cunningham never had a losing season. Cunningham’s boldest move as coach was his instigation of the trade of superstar George McGinnis from the Sixers for defensive standout Bobby Jones. The addition of Jones helped the Sixers to rank among the league’s top defensive teams in every year of Cunningham’s tenure. Billy Cunningham led the Sixers to the 1983 NBA title and Finals appearances in 1980 and 1982. Cunningham has the 3rd highest winning percentage of any coach in NBA history.
Larry Bird
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/23/2013.
As a player Larry Bird won three MVPs and led the Celtics to three NBA championships. Bird took over the head coaching job of the Indiana Pacers in 1997 with no previous coaching experience. The Pacers were an aging team that had missed the playoffs in the 1996-97 season. In his 1st season as coach, Bird led the Pacers to a 58-24 record and was named NBA coach of the year. In the playoffs Bird led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals where they played a tough 7 game series falling to the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls. Bird led the Pacers to the #1 overall seed in the East in ’99 where they again went to the Conference Finals, this time losing to the Knicks. In his last season as coach Bird led the Pacers to a NBA Finals appearance. Bird is 5th all-time in winning percentage in NBA history.
The success of the coaches above proves that being a great player is not an impediment to being a good or great NBA coach. Other greats like Bill Russell and Jerry West have experienced success as head coaches. The team that gives Patrick Ewing a chance as head coach could find themselves stumbling onto the next Billy Cunningham or Lenny Wilkens.
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