Questo è il riconoscimento che premia gli head coach che più di tutti hanno saputo plasmare le squadre loro affidate, quelli che hanno cioè meglio allenato.

1963 - HARRY GALLATIN, St. Louis Hawks
1964 - ALEX HANNUM, San Francisco Warriors
1965 - RED AURBACH, Boston Celtics
1966 - DOLPH SCHAYES, Philadelphia 76ers
1967 - JOHNNY KERR, Chicago Bulls
1968 - RICHIE GUERIN, St. Louis Hawks
1969 - GENE SHUE, Baltimore Bullets
1970 - RED HOLZMAN, New York Knicks
1971 - DICK MOTTA, Chicago Bulls
1972 - BILL SHARMAN, Los Angeles Lakers
1973 - TOM HEINSOHN, Boston Celtics
1974 - RAY SCOTT, Detroit Pistons
1975 - PHIL JOHNSON, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
1976 - BILL FITCH, Cleveland Cavaliers
1977 - TOM NISSALKE, Houston Rockets
1978 - HUBIE BROWN, Atlanta Hawks
1979 - COTTON FITZSIMMONS, Kansas City Kings
1980 - BILL FITCH, Boston Celtics
1981 - JACK McKINNEY, Indiana Pacers
1982 - GENE SHUE, Washington Bullets
1983 - DON NELSON, Milwaukee Bucks
1984 - FRANK LAYDEN, Utah Jazz
1985 - DON NELSON, Milwaukee Bucks
1986 - MIKE FRATELLO, Atlanta Hawks
1987 - MIKE SCHULER, Portland Trail Blazers
1988 - DOUG MOE, Denver Nuggets
1989 - COTTON FITZSIMMONS, Phoenix Suns
1990 - PAT RILEY, New York Knicks
1991 - DON CHANEY, Houston Rockets
1992 - DON NELSON, Golden State Warriors
1993 - PAT RILEY, New York Knicks
1994 - LENNY WILKENS, Atlanta Hawks
1995 - DEL HARRIS, Los Angeles Lakers
1996 - PHIL JACKSON, Chicago Bulls
1997 - PAT RILEY, Miami Heat
1998 - LARRY BIRD, Indiana Pacers
1999 - MIKE DUNLEAVY, Portland Trail Blazers
2000 - GLENN "DOC" RIVERS, Orlando Magic
2001 - LARRY BROWN, Philadelphia 76ers
2002 - RICK CARLISLE, Detroit Pistons
2003 - GREGG POPOVICH, San Antonio Spurs