Twenty-eight of the thirty coaches rocking NBA sidelines today can trace their entire coaching lineage straight back to Arnold “Red” Auerbach. Seriously, that’s almost the *entire* league! It’s a staggering number, especially when you consider it’s been over sixty years since he coached his last game, and almost two decades since he passed away in October 2006. Auerbach’s legacy isn’t just about his championships; it’s the massive influence his players had, becoming coaches and mentoring new generations.
The Unstoppable Tree: How Red Built an Empire That Keeps Growing
Back in 2006, when Red Auerbach passed, the Boston Globe published a coaching tree showing 23 of 30 league coaches could trace roots back to him. Today, that tree isn’t dwindling away; it’s more robust than ever! Why’s it so strong? Red had a genius habit of acquiring smart players who consistently turned into successful coaches themselves. We’re talking legendary figures like Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, Tommy Heinsohn, and KC Jones, all four of whom went on to win NBA titles as coaches after playing for Red. Plus, Don Nelson, another Red disciple, coached a mind-boggling 2,398 games. That kind of talent identification is just built different.
A Legacy That Crushes All Others: Forty Championships and Five Active Branches
Think about the sheer dominance: in the 69 years since Red Auerbach snagged his first title in 1957, he and his coaching tree have accounted for an unbelievable 40 of the championships awarded. It’s crazy. When you look at other coaches active in 1966, Red’s final year, only Alex Hannum and Fred Schaus even claim trees of any magnitude today. Even for them, it’s mostly thanks to Larry Brown, who, through Gregg Popovich, had a massive impact. Popovich himself, though retired for just a couple years, has connections to thirteen NBA coaches. For Schaus, his only active branch is that Popovich connection via Larry Brown. Hannum has just two active branches: his connection through Larry Brown and through Pat Riley. But Red? His coaching tree has impacted the NBA through five totally distinct, active branches today: Bill Sharman, K.C. Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, Bob Cousy, and Don Nelson. His influence is simply unmatched.
The guy literally exerted a greater influence on the shape of professional basketball than any other individual among the over 350 head coaches in NBA history. Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks, for example, can trace his way back to Red through multiple paths. It just goes to show you, some legacies aren’t just about individual banners; they’re about building something that lasts, something that keeps shaping the game decades later.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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