Who Has Coached the Most NBA Games?

As someone who's watched a lot of National Basketball Association (NBA) games over the years, random questions will often enter my mind. One question that has always intrigued me is, who has coached the most NBA games? We talk about "iron men" in baseball and the longevity of someone like Dara Torres, who swam in the Olympics at age 41. But, we rarely bring up these same qualities with coaches. 

It then begs the obvious question, which is: is it more impressive to do something for longer or to have more success while you were doing it? Most were argue for the latter. 

That argument aside, it shouldn't discredit the men and women who have managed to stretch "father time" and challenge stereotypes about longevity. 

Today, we look at the coaches in the NBA that have stood the test of time. Some have managed to do it all with one organization; others bounced around. Regardless of how they got there, their careers demand our respect. ​

Top Coaches

Let's take a look at the top three coaches who have coached the most NBA games.

Gregg Popovich

​When it comes to the most successful coaches in the NBA, Gregg Popovich is undoubtedly one of the names that come to mind. Popovich has been the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs since 1996 and has coached 2,542 games to date. He has led the Spurs to five NBA championships and has been named the NBA Coach of the Year three times. Popovich is known for his ability to develop young talent and his emphasis on team play. 

Pop also has the most wins ever by an NBA head coach at 1,364, a stat that will continue to increase as he continues to coach. What's interesting about Pop is that he's the only coach on this list that didn't play professional basketball. His playing career ended after his college days at Air Force. 

Lenny Wilkens

​Lenny Wilkens had the record for most NBA games coached until Pop passed him, having coached 2,487 games in his career. Wilkens coached for four decades and was known for his calm demeanor and ability to connect with his players. He coached the Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and New York Knicks. Wilkens won an NBA championship as a player with the Boston Celtics and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 1998.

Don Nelson

​Don Nelson is another legendary figure who spent 31 NBA seasons as a head coach. Nelson coached 2,398 games during his career, which spanned over three decades. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. Nelson was known for his innovative style of play and his ability to adapt to the changing landscape of the league. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Nelson also won 5 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics, and his number 19 was retired in 1978. 

Other Notable Coaches

Gregg Popovich, Lenny Wilkens, and Don Nelson have coached the most NBA games in history. However, there are several other coaches who have also had long and successful careers in the league.

Jerry Sloan

​Jerry Sloan is one of the most respected coaches in NBA history. He spent 23 seasons as the head coach of the Utah Jazz and led them to two NBA Finals appearances. Sloan was known for his tough, no-nonsense approach and his ability to get the most out of his players. He coached a total of 1,809 regular-season games and 202 playoff games, which ranks him fourth all-time in both categories.

As player, Sloan played 11 seasons in the NBA, ten for the Chicago Bulls. 

George Karl

​George Karl is another coach who had a long and successful career in the NBA. He coached for 29 seasons and won over 1,175 games, which ranks him sixth all-time. Karl coached several teams throughout his career, including the Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and Sacramento Kings. He was known for his innovative offensive strategies and his ability to get his players to buy into his system.

Karl played in the ABA for three seasons alongside George Gervin with the San Antonio Spurs. After his third season, the Spurs joined the NBA, and Karl played sparingly for two seasons before becoming an assistant coach for the team. 

Rick Adelman

​Rick Adelman is another coach who had a long and successful career in the NBA. He coached for 23 seasons and won over 1,042 games, which ranks him ninth all-time. Adelman coached several teams throughout his career, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. He was known for his ability to get the most out of his players and his success in developing young talent.

Adelman was drafted in the 7th round of the 1968 draft by the San Diego Rockets (now the Houston Rockets). He played there for two seasons and then moved to Portland to join the expansion team Blazers in 1970.