Chuck Daly (2 champs, 1 gold medal) is the best coach ever next to Red Auerbach (16 champs 11 as coach, 8 in a row), John Wooden(10), Larry Brown(1 NCAA, 1 NBA), Coach K (3 NCAA, and perhaps the best coach of his generation) and Dean Smith. He works best with players who work hard and want to be the best, thats why he worked so well with detroit, the Nets and dream team. Orlando didnt work so well due to a has been prima donna named penny hardaway. But that doesnt diminish Daly's legacy one bit. As for Riley, I respect him as a coach, but like Phil Jackson, they only look good when the talent on their teams are good. He did get the most out of those Knick teams, but they couldnt get past Michael. Daly devised the Jordan rules, and remember, the Pistons were the last team to know how to shut down Mike, and thats saying quite a lot. Michael made Phil, and Jerry West made the Lakers.

desiknight, you would have 3 centers?? :). I would pick Tim Duncun to build my team around. He is a solid fundemental player who makes everyone around him great.

Dknight.. i dont think riley was the best coach.. he's a great defensive coach.. and i do like riley alot... but i dont feel hes the best.. and dr detroit.. i completely agree with u.. jerry west was the best thing that ever happened to the lakers.. and buss and his dumb organization couldnt even keep him happy.. :)

Riley didnt build the lakers, Jerry West did...and the best coach coached the best, and that was Chuck Daly, coach of the Pistons and Dream Team I.

Joe Dumars. The man knows how to build a franchise for success now and years from now.