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NBA: Best player and coach pairing from each team’s history

By Tony Pesta

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Best coach/player pairing in Cleveland Cavaliers history: Lenny Wilkins & Mark Price

I came very close to including Tyronn Lue on this list. His leadership was crucial to helping the Cleveland Cavaliers win their only championship in 2016, but it never felt as if he had a special connection or mentorship with LeBron James or Kyrie Irving.

Instead, we will honor the duo of Lenny Wilkins and Mark Price. This pairing made all the sense in the world at the time as Wilkins was a nine-time All-Star and Hall-of-Fame caliber point guard during his playing career. His experience proved to be helpful in the development of Price’s game.

Learning from Wilkins, Price managed to reach four All-NBA teams as one of the best pure shooters in league history. He averaged 18.4 points and 8.4 assists per game on nearly 50/40/90 shooting from the field over five seasons with the Cavaliers.

Price is easily one of the more underrated players the league has seen. A skilled playmaker that could score at an efficient rate was rare at the time and his shooting set him apart from the rest of his competition. He can be described as a prototype Stephen Curry, truly ahead of his time as a shooter.

Wilkins was named the Coach of the Month a total of three times with Cleveland and led the team to three 50+ win seasons. Had they not run into the great Michael Jordan, the Cavaliers may have seen more success in the NBA Playoffs.