Allan Bristow

Allan Bristow

NBA Assistant & Head Coach | Former NBA Executive | Virgina Tech Sports Hall of Famer

Allan Bristow was born on August 23, 1951, in Richmond, Virginia. After being an all-state player at Henrico High School, Bristow was recruited to play college basketball for Virginia Tech coach Howie Shannon beginning in the 1969–70 season. Bristow averaged 27.3 points and 17.1 rebounds per game as a freshman on the JV/Freshmen. He was second on the team in scoring that season to Loyd King (21.3 ppg), marking the only time that two Hokies ever averaged over 20 points in a single season.

Bristow was named to the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, and his jersey was retired by the university in 1998.

Bristow later served as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Nuggets from 1997 to 1998.

  • Overall Coaching Record: 207–203

Coaching Career

Allan Bristow started his coaching career with the San Antonio Spurs.

Notable Players Coached

  • Artis Gilmore
    • 1975 ABA champion
    • 1975 ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player (1975)
    • 1972 ABA Most Valuable Player
    • 6× NBA All-Star (1978, 1979, 1981–1983, 1986)
    • 5× ABA All-Star (1972–1976)
    • 1974 ABA All-Star Game MVP
    • 5× All-ABA First Team (1972–1976)
    • 4× ABA All-Defensive First Team (1973–1976)
    • 1978 NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1978)
    • 1972 ABA Rookie of the Year
    • 1972 ABA All-Rookie First Team
    • 4× ABA rebounding champion (1972–1974, 1976)
    • ABA All-Time Team
  • George Gervin
    • 9× NBA All-Star (1977–1985)
    • 1980 NBA All-Star Game MVP
    • 5× All-NBA First Team (1978–1982)
    • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1977, 1983)
    • 4× NBA scoring champion (1978–1980, 1982)
    • 3× ABA All-Star (1974–1976)
    • 2× All-ABA Second Team (1975, 1976)
    • 1973 ABA All-Rookie First Team
    • No. 44 retired by San Antonio Spurs
    • NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
    • ABA All-Time Team

Coach Bristow became an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets under Doug Moe. In his first season as an assistant coach, the Nuggets finished with a 52–30 record, making a deep playoff to the Conference finals, but were eliminated by Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games. The following season, the team finished with a 47–35 record and were eliminated in the conference semifinals by Bill Fitch and the Houston Rockets in 6 games.

In 1987, the Nuggets finished with a 37–45 record, still qualifying for the playoffs, and were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers in 3 games (3-0). In 1988, the Nuggets finished with a 54–28 record and were eliminated in the semifinals by John MacLeod and the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games.

In 1989, the Nuggets finished with a 44–38 record but were defeated in the first round by Cotton Fitzsimmons and the Phoenix Suns in 3 games (3-0). In 1990, Bristow’s final season, the Nuggets finished with a 43–39 record and were eliminated by Larry Brown and the San Antonio Spurs in 3 games. After the season, Moe resigned as the head coach of the Nuggets.

Notable Players Coached

  • Dan Issel
    • 1975 ABA champion
    • 1977 NBA All-Star
    • 6× ABA All-Star (1971–1976)
    • 1972 ABA All-Star Game MVP
    • 1972 All-ABA First Team
    • 4× All-ABA Second Team (1971, 1973, 1974, 1976)
    • 1971 ABA Rookie of the Year
    • 1971 ABA scoring champion
    • ABA All-Time Team
    • No. 44 retired by Denver Nuggets
  • Alex English
    • 8× NBA All-Star (1982–1989)
    • 3× All-NBA Second Team (1982, 1983, 1986)
    • 1983 NBA scoring champion
    • No. 2 retired by Denver Nuggets
  • Fat Lever
    • 2× NBA All-Star (1988, 1990)
    • 1987 All-NBA Second Team
    • NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1988)
    • No. 12 retired by Denver Nuggets
  • Calvin Natt
    • 1985 NBA All-Star
    • 1980 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • T.R. Dunn (3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983–1985 & Future NBA Coach)
  • Bill Hanzlik (1986 NBA All-Defensive Second Team)

Coach Bristow succeeded Gene Littles as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, making him the third head coach in franchise history. In his first season, the Hornets finished with a 31–51 record, missing the playoffs. The following season, the Hornets finished with a 44–38 record, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They were eliminated in 5 games (4-1) by Pat Riley and the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals.

In 1994, the Hornets finished with a 41–41, missing the playoffs. In 1995, the Hornets finished with a 50–32 record, they were later eliminated in the first round by Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls in 4 games (3-1).

In 1996, Bristow’s last season coaching, the team finished with a 41–41 record, missing the playoffs.

As of 2026, Bristow would Bristow is the Hornets’ second-winningest head coach with 207 regular season victories

Notable Players Coached

  • Alonzo Mourning
    • Future 2006 NBA champion
    • 7× NBA All-Star (1994–1997, 2000–2002)
    • Future 1999 All-NBA First Team
    • Future 2000 All-NBA Second Team
    • Future 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000)
    • Future 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1999, 2000)
    • Future 2× NBA blocks leader (1999, 2000)
    • 1993 NBA All-Rookie First Team
    • No. 33 retired by Miami Heat
  • Larry Johnson
    • 2× NBA All-Star (1993, 1995)
    • 1993 All-NBA Second Team
    • 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • Hersey Hawkins
    • 1991 NBA All-Star
    • 1989 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Dell Curry
    • 1994 NBA Sixth Man of The Year
    • No. 30 retired by Charlotte Hornets
  • Kendall Gill
    • 1991 NBA All-Rookie First Team
    • Future 1999 NBA steals leader
  • Tony Bennet (Future NCAA Head Coach)
  • Muggsy Bogues