List of NBA All-Star Game head coaches explained

This is a list of NBA All-Star Game head coaches. The National Basketball Association All-Star Game is an annual basketball exhibition game held during the National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season. For most of its history, the All-Star Game was played between the Western Conference All-Stars and the Eastern Conference All-Stars, where the head coach for each All-Star team was the coach of the NBA team with the best record from their respective conference. From the 2018 to the 2023 game, the format of the game was slightly altered. The starters and reserves were chosen as usual, but the two captains (one from each conference) draft their team from those starters and reserves. The coaches are also selected as usual, and matched with the captain from their respective conference.

To ensure that a different coach represents their conference each year, there is a rule against a head coach making a consecutive appearance. Instead, the coach with the next best record is selected. This rule is known as the "Riley Rule" and was introduced in the early 1990s after the dominance of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers team in the Western Conference, which was coached by Pat Riley.

Only Lenny Wilkens (SuperSonics, Cavaliers, and Hawks), Alex Hannum (Hawks, Warriors, and 76ers), and Doc Rivers (Celtics, 76ers, and Bucks) have represented three separate teams as the All-Star Game coach. Red Auerbach, the head coach for the Boston Celtics between 1950–1966, coached the most All-Star Games with 11 appearances.

Key

^	Denotes coach who is currently coaching an NBA team
	Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach
^	Active NBA coach who has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Coach (X)	Denotes the number of times the coach has been selected, up to and including that season

__TOC__

Eastern Division / Conference (1951–2017)

Year	Head coach	Team	Ref.
1951		New York Knicks	^[1]
1952		Syracuse Nationals	^[2]
1953	(2)	New York Knicks	^[3]
1954	(3)	New York Knicks	^[4]
1955	(2)	Syracuse Nationals	^[5]
1956		Philadelphia Warriors	^[6]
1957		Boston Celtics	^[7]
1958	(2)	Boston Celtics	^[8]
1959	(3)	Boston Celtics	^[9]
1960	(4)	Boston Celtics	^[10]
1961	(5)	Boston Celtics	^[11]
1962	(6)	Boston Celtics	^[12]
1963	(7)	Boston Celtics	^[13]
1964	(8)	Boston Celtics	^[14]
1965	(9)	Boston Celtics	^[15]
1966	(10)	Boston Celtics	^[16]
1967	(11)	None^[17]	^[18]
1968	(3)	Philadelphia 76ers	^[19]
1969		Baltimore Bullets	^[20]
1970		New York Knicks	^[21]
1971	(2)	New York Knicks	^[22]
1972		Boston Celtics	^[23]
1973	(2)	Boston Celtics	^[24]
1974	(3)	Boston Celtics	^[25]
1975		Washington Bullets	^[26]
1976	(4)	Boston Celtics	^[27]
1977	(2)	Philadelphia 76ers	^[28]
1978		Philadelphia 76ers	^[29]
1979		Washington Bullets	^[30]
1980	(2)	Philadelphia 76ers	^[31]
1981	(3)	Philadelphia 76ers	^[32]
1982		Boston Celtics	^[33]
1983	(4)	Philadelphia 76ers	^[34]
1984	(2)	Boston Celtics	^[35]
1985	(3)	Boston Celtics	^[36]
1986	(4)	Boston Celtics	^[37]
1987	(5)	Boston Celtics	^[38]
1988		Atlanta Hawks	^[39]
1989	(3)	Cleveland Cavaliers	^[40]
1990		Detroit Pistons	^[41]
1991		Boston Celtics	^[42]
1992		Chicago Bulls	^[43]
1993	(9)	New York Knicks	^[44]
1994	(4)	Atlanta Hawks	^[45]
1995		Orlando Magic	^[46]
1996	(2)	Chicago Bulls	^[47]
1997		Detroit Pistons	^[48]
1998		Indiana Pacers	^[49]
2000		New York Knicks	^[50]
2001	(2)	Philadelphia 76ers	^[51]
2002		New Jersey Nets	^[52]
2003		Indiana Pacers	^[53]
2004	^	Indiana Pacers	^[54]
2005		Miami Heat	^[55]
2006	(2)	Detroit Pistons	^[56]
2007		Washington Wizards	^[57]
2008	^	Boston Celtics	^[58]
2009	^	Cleveland Cavaliers	^[59]
2010	(2)	Orlando Magic	^[60]
2011	^ (2)	Boston Celtics	^[61]
2012	^	Chicago Bulls	^[62]
2013	^	Miami Heat	^[63]
2014	^	Indiana Pacers
2015		Atlanta Hawks
2016	^	Cleveland Cavaliers
2017		Boston Celtics

Western Division / Conference (1951–2017)

Year	Head coach	Team	Ref.
1951		Minneapolis Lakers
1952	(2)	Minneapolis Lakers
1953	(3)	Minneapolis Lakers
1954	(4)	Minneapolis Lakers
1955		Fort Wayne Pistons
1956	(2)	Fort Wayne Pistons
1957		Rochester Royals
1958		St. Louis Hawks
1959		St. Louis Hawks
1960	(2)	St. Louis Hawks
1961		St. Louis Hawks
1962		Los Angeles Lakers
1963	(2)	Los Angeles Lakers
1964	(3)	Los Angeles Lakers
1965	(2)	San Francisco Warriors
1966	(4)	Los Angeles Lakers
1967	(5)	Los Angeles Lakers
1968		San Francisco Warriors
1969		Atlanta Hawks
1970	(2)	Atlanta Hawks
1971		Milwaukee Bucks
1972	(2)	Los Angeles Lakers
1973	(3)	Los Angeles Lakers
1974	(2)	Milwaukee Bucks
1975		Golden State Warriors
1976	(2)	Golden State Warriors
1977		Denver Nuggets
1978		Portland Trail Blazers
1979		Seattle SuperSonics
1980	(2)	Seattle SuperSonics
1981		Phoenix Suns
1982		Los Angeles Lakers
1983	(2)	Los Angeles Lakers
1984		Utah Jazz
1985	(3)	Los Angeles Lakers
1986	(4)	Los Angeles Lakers
1987	(5)	Los Angeles Lakers
1988	(6)	Los Angeles Lakers
1989	(7)	Los Angeles Lakers
1990	(8)	Los Angeles Lakers
1991		Portland Trail Blazers
1992		Golden State Warriors
1993		Phoenix Suns
1994		Seattle SuperSonics
1995	(2)	Phoenix Suns
1996	(2)	Seattle SuperSonics
1997		Houston Rockets
1998	(3)	Seattle SuperSonics
2000	(3)	Los Angeles Lakers
2001	(2)	Sacramento Kings
2002	(2)	Dallas Mavericks
2003	(3)	Sacramento Kings
2004		Minnesota Timberwolves
2005	^*	San Antonio Spurs
2006		Dallas Mavericks
2007		Phoenix Suns
2008	(2)	New Orleans Hornets
2009	(4)	Los Angeles Lakers
2010	(4)	Denver Nuggets
2011	^* (2)	San Antonio Spurs
2012		Oklahoma City Thunder
2013	^* (3)	San Antonio Spurs
2014	(2)	Oklahoma City Thunder	^[64]
2015	^	Golden State Warriors	^[65]
2016	^* (4)	San Antonio Spurs	^[66]
2017	^ (2)	Golden State Warriors	^[67]

Unconferenced format (2018–2023)

Year	Head coach	Team	All-Star Team	Ref.
2018		Toronto Raptors	Team LeBron	^[68]
	(2)	Houston Rockets	Team Steph
2019	(2)	Milwaukee Bucks	Team Giannis	^[69]
	^	Denver Nuggets	Team LeBron
2020	Nick Nurse^	Toronto Raptors	Team Giannis	^[70]
	^ (2)	Los Angeles Lakers	Team LeBron
2021	Doc Rivers^ (3)	Philadelphia 76ers	Team Durant	^[71]
	^	Utah Jazz	Team LeBron
2022	Monty Williams^	Phoenix Suns	Team LeBron	^[72]
	Erik Spoelstra^ (2)	Miami Heat	Team Durant
2023	^ (2)	Denver Nuggets	Team LeBron	^[73]
	Joe Mazzulla^	Boston Celtics	Team Giannis

Most selections

Head coach		Selections
	11	– (East)
	9	–; – (West) (East)
	5	– (East)
	5	–; – (West)
	4	– (West)
	4	–; (East)
	4	–; (East)
	4	– (West) ; (East)
	4	(East) ; (West)
	4	; ; (West)
	4	; ; (West)
	4	; (East) (Unconferenced)
	3	– (East)
	3	– (West)
	3	(West) (East)
	3	; (West)

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1951 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
2. Web site: 1952 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
3. Web site: 1953 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
4. Web site: 1954 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
5. Web site: 1955 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
6. Web site: 1956 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
7. Web site: 1957 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
8. Web site: 1958 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
9. Web site: 1959 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
10. Web site: 1960 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
11. Web site: 1961 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
12. Web site: 1962 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
13. Web site: 1963 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
14. Web site: 1964 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
15. Web site: 1965 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
16. Web site: 1966 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
17. Red Auerbach stepped down from the Boston Celtics' head coaching position at the end of the .
18. Web site: 1967 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
19. Web site: 1968 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
20. Web site: 1969 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
21. Web site: 1970 NBA All-Star Game . basketball-reference.com . November 14, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110220220136/http://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1970.html . February 20, 2011 .
22. Web site: 1971 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
23. Web site: 1972 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
24. Web site: 1973 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
25. Web site: 1974 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 14, 2010.
26. Web site: 1975 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
27. Web site: 1976 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
28. Web site: 1977 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
29. Web site: 1978 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
30. Web site: 1979 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
31. Web site: 1980 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
32. Web site: 1981 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
33. Web site: 1982 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
34. Web site: 1983 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
35. Web site: 1984 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
36. Web site: 1985 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
37. Web site: 1986 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
38. Web site: 1987 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
39. Web site: 1988 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
40. Web site: 1989 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
41. Web site: 1990 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
42. Web site: 1991 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
43. Web site: 1992 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
44. Web site: 1993 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
45. Web site: 1994 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
46. Web site: 1995 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 18, 2010.
47. Web site: 1996 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
48. Web site: 1997 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
49. Web site: 1998 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
50. Web site: 2000 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
51. Web site: 2001 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
52. Web site: 2002 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
53. Web site: 2003 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
54. Web site: 2004 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
55. Web site: 2005 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
56. Web site: 2006 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
57. Web site: 2007 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
58. Web site: 2008 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
59. Web site: 2009 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
60. Web site: 2010 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. November 22, 2010.
61. Web site: 2011 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. December 30, 2011.
62. Web site: 2012 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. February 14, 2012.
63. Web site: 2013 NBA All-Star Game. January 27, 2013. basketball-reference.com.
64. Web site: 2014 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. December 25, 2016.
65. Web site: 2015 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. January 22, 2015.
66. Web site: 2016 NBA All-Star Game. January 26, 2016. basketball-reference.com.
67. Web site: 2017 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. January 23, 2017.
68. Web site: 2018 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. January 31, 2020.
69. Web site: 2019 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. January 31, 2020.
70. Web site: 2020 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. February 10, 2020.
71. Web site: 76ers' Doc Rivers to coach Team Durant in All-Star Game. NBA.com. February 20, 2021.
72. Web site: 2022 NBA All-Star Game: Heat's Erik Spoelstra to coach Team Durant, Suns' Monty Williams leads Team LeBron. CBS Sports. Kaskey-Blomain. Michael. January 31, 2023.
73. Web site: Denver’s Michael Malone gets All-Star Game coaching nod. NBA. Reynolds. Tim. February 2, 2023.
74. Web site: 2024 NBA All-Star Game. basketball-reference.com. February 4, 2024.