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NBA: Greatest head coach in each team’s franchise history

By Josh Cornelissen

Gregg Popovich, Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Gregg Popovich, Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Lionel Hollins
Lionel Hollins. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Greatest head coach in Memphis Grizzlies history: Lionel Hollins, 2009-13

In 1995, the NBA expanded into Canada, adding the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies. The Toronto Raptors recently broke through to bring the first basketball title to Canada. The Grizzlies, in contrast, couldn’t sustain in Vancouver and moved to Memphis in 2001.

Since the move, the team has seen two spikes of success, both centered around the Gasol brothers. In 2004, the team made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, with Pau Gasol and head coach Hubie Brown leading the way. After Pau was traded for his brother Marc Gasol, the team swooned back into a down spell.

That ended as Marc found his groove alongside guard Mike Conley and head coach Lionel Hollins led the team back to the postseason in 2011. The team would make the playoffs three straight seasons under Hollins, including a push to the Western Conference Finals in 2013.

Hollins’ 196 wins are first by a mile in franchise history and his 18 career playoff wins are more than every other coach combined. The “Grit ‘N Grind” Grizzlies that he built into a contender stayed together for as long as possible after Hollins left, making the postseason under Dave Joerger and David Fizdale as well.

There is no overwhelming coaching record here to hold up and Hollins hasn’t done much to prove himself at other stops. What is certain is Hollins’ success is greater than anyone else’s in Memphis. With an exciting young core in place, perhaps the Grizzlies’ future has the next great head coach on the horizon?