NBA: Ranking all 30 head coaches heading into 2023-24

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Miami Heat Erik Spoelstra (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports) /

3. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

Not everyone can play for the Miami Heat. They are a first-class organization that demands a lot of its players. “Heat Culture” is established at the top with Heat President Pat Riley and is instilled through its great head coach, Erik Spoelstra.

The 52-year-old coach has led the Heat since 2008. During that time, he’s led Miami to the NBA Finals six times – tied for the most among active NBA head coaches. Spoelstra is second in playoff wins (109), third in playoff appearances (12), third in regular season wins (704), and fourth in winning percentage (.589) among active coaches.

Spoelstra is someone who exhibits extraordinary mental toughness, is a great leader, and gets more out of his players than any coach in the NBA. Mario Chalmers. Tyler Johnson. Josh Richardson. Bam Adebayo. Kendrick Nunn. Duncan Robinson. Tyler Herro. Gabe Vincent. Max Strus. Caleb Martin.

Other than Adebayo, none of those guys was a lottery pick. Many were second-round picks or were undrafted altogether. Spoelstra helped turn those guys into NBA starters, at minimum. That alone gets him on the medal stand of current NBA head coaches.