Who's The Greatest Coach In Dallas Mavericks History?

In this series, we’ll take a look at the illustrious list of head coaches in each NBA franchise’s history. To make a case for ‘greatest coach,’ we’ll look at win-loss record, player development, and (most importantly) team accomplishments under that coach’s tutelage.

The Dallas Mavericks have been one of the most popular teams in the history of the NBA. While this franchise has been fortunate enough to land a rich stash of talent for decades, the unique styles of the coaches employed by the Mavs have contributed to their prominence as well.

This team has gone from employing run-and-gun with young, dynamic shooters to steady halfcourt play with bruisers and grizzled veterans. As fascinating as the roster changes have been, the list of coaches in Mavs history is a who’s who of master tacticians as well.

One of the most iconic photos in Mavs history shows Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki showcasing their Dallas jerseys, not to mention some questionable haircuts. The head coach in the photo with them: Don Nelson, a maverick in his own right. An early proponent of fast-paced, high-octane offense that set the tone for today’s game, Nellie led the team to five consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the 2003 Western Conference Finals.

In 2005, the Mavs let go of Nelson and hired Avery Johnson as his replacement. A court general on the Spurs’ 1999 championship squad, Johnson helped the Mavs sustain their winning ways, leading the team to the NBA Finals in his first season as head coach. Though Dallas fell to the Miami Heat in the 2006 championship series, Johnson was named NBA Coach of the Year.

Mavs fans finally saw their beloved team win the big one in 2011 when prime Nowitzki teamed up with veterans like Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler, and Jason Terry. Steering the ship during this time was Rick Carlisle, who has an astute mind for both ends of the floor. Aside from helping the Mavs get their first taste of championship gold, Carlisle is the only coach in franchise history to post 500+ wins.

Nelson and Johnson paved the way for the Mavs to win the Larry O’Brien trophy, but Carlisle walked the arduous road and reached the promised land. For this unprecedented feat (as well as his lengthy track record of winning in Dallas), Carlisle gets the nod as the greatest Mavericks coach ever.