K.C. Jones

K.C. Jones began his coaching career as the head coach of the Brandeis Judges of Brandeis University.

Coach Jones became an assistant coach under Robert Harrison for the Harvard Crimson men’s basketball team. In his first and only season as an assistant, the team finished with a 16-10 record. The following season, Jones’ former teammate Tom “Satch” Sanders took his spot on the bench as an assistant coach.

Coach Jones became an assistant coach under Bill Sharman, his former Celtics teammate for the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first and only season, the Lakers finished with a 69–13 record, 1st place in the Western Conference, a record that stood for 24 seasons until the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls went 72–10.

During the regular season, they would also go on an NBA record 33-game winning streak. The team went on to win 81 regular season and playoff games overall, a record that would stand alone for 14 years until the Boston Celtics matched it in 1986. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time, the 1971–72 Lakers were named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History in 1996.

Notable Players Coached

• Jerry West
• Wilt Chamberlain
• Gail Goodrich

Coach Jones became the became the first ever head coach of the American Basketball Association (ABA)’s San Diego Conquistadors. In his first and only season, the team finished with a 37–47 record, qualifying for the ABA playoffs. They were eliminated in the Division Semifinals by LaDell Anderson and the Utah Starz in 4 games (4-0).

Notable Players Coached

• Red Robbins
  • 1971 ABA champion
  • 3× ABA All-Star (1968, 1969, 1971)
  • 1969 All-ABA Second Team
• Stew Johnson (3× ABA All-Star (1973–1975)
• Chuck Williams (2× ABA All-Star (1973, 1976)
• Gene Moore
  • 1970 ABA All-Star
  • 1969 ABA All-Rookie Team

Coach Jones succeeded Gene Shue as the head coach of the Capital Bullets, previously known as the Baltimore Bullets. In his first season, the team finished with a 47–35 record, 3rd in the Eastern Conference, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the New York Knicks in 7 games.

The following season, the Bullets finished with a 60–22 record, 2nd in the Eastern Conference, making a deep playoff run to the 1975 NBA finals where they were eliminated in 4 games (4-0) by the Golden State Warriors.

In his 3rd season, the Bullets finished with 48–34 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the conference semifinals by Bill Fitch and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 7 games.

Notable Players Coached

• Wes Unseld
  • Future 1978 NBA champion
  • Future 1978 NBA Finals MVP
  • 1969 NBA Most Valuable Player
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1969, 1971–1973, 1975)
  • 1969 All-NBA First Team
  • 1969 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1969 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1975 NBA rebounding leader
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 41 retired by Washington Wizards
• Elvin Hayes
  • 1978 NBA champion
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1969–1980)
  • 3× All-NBA First Team (1975, 1977, 1979)
  • 3× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1974, 1976)
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1974, 1975)
  • 1969 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1969 NBA scoring champion
  • 2× NBA rebounding leader (1970, 1974)
  • No. 11 retired by Washington Wizards
  • No. 44 retired by Houston Rockets
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
• Phil Chenier
  • 1978 NBA champion
  • 3× NBA All-Star (1974, 1975, 1977)
  • 1975 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • No. 45 retired by Washington Wizards
• Jimmy Jones
  • 6× ABA All-Star (1968–1971, 1973, 1974)
  • 3× All-ABA First Team (1969, 1973, 1974)
  • 1968 ABA All-Rookie First Team
  • ABA All-Time Team
• Truck Robinson
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1978, 1981)
  • 1978 All-NBA First Team
  • 1978 NBA rebounding leader
• Kevin Porter (4× NBA assists leader (1975, 1978, 1979, 1981)

Coach Jones became an assistant coach under Larry Costello and later under Don Nelson for the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first and only season, the team finished with a 30–52 record, missing the playoffs.

Notable Players Coached

• 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
• Bob Dandridge
  • 2× NBA champion (1971, 1978)
  • 4× NBA All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976, 1979)
  • 1979 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1979 NBA All-Defensive First Team
  • 1970 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • No. 10 retired by Milwaukee Bucks
• Brian Winters
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1976, 1978)
  • 1975 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • No. 32 retired by Milwaukee Bucks
• Quinn Buckner
  • 1984 NBA champion
  • 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1978, 1980–1982)
  • Future NBA Head Coach
• Junior Bridgeman (No. 2 retired by Milwaukee Bucks)
• Fred Carter (Future NBA Head Coach)

Coach Jones reunited with his former team, the Boston Celtics when he became an assistant coach under Tom “Satch” Sanders and later Dave Cowens when Sanders was fired. In his first season as an assistant coach, the team finished with a 29–53 record, missing the playoffs.

The following season, Bill Fitch was hired as the head coach and Larry Bird was drafted, marking the start of a new championship era. The team finished with a 61–21 record, making a deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference finals, but were eliminated by Billy Cunningham and the Philadelphia 76ers in 5 games (4-1).

In 1981, the Celtics finished with a 62–20 record, making a deep playoff run to the NBA finals where they defeated the Houston Rockets in 6 games (4-2) to become the 1981 champions. In 1982, the Celtics finished with a 63–19 record, making a deep playoff run to the conference finals, facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers, but were eliminated in 7 games.

In Fitch’s last season in 1983, the Celtics finished with a 56–26 record but were eliminated early in the playoffs then usual when Don Nelson and the Milwaukee Bucks completed a clean 4-0 sweep in the conference semifinals.

Notable Players Coached

• Larry Bird
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
  • 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
  • 1982 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
  • 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 3× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986–1988)
  • 1986 AP Athlete of the Year
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
• Kevin McHale
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)
  • 1987 All-NBA First Team
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983, 1989, 1990)
  • 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)
  • 1981 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 32 retired by Boston Celtics
• Robert Parish
  • 4× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997)
  • 9× NBA All-Star (1981–1987, 1990, 1991)
  • 1982 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1989 All-NBA Third Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 00 retired by Boston Celtics
• Dave Cowens
  • 2× NBA champion (1974, 1976)
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (1973)
  • 8× NBA All-Star (1972–1978, 1980)
  • 1973 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 3× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
  • 1976 NBA All-Defensive First Team
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
  • 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 18 retired by Boston Celtics
• Bob McAdoo
  • 2× NBA champion (1982, 1985)
  • 1975 NBA Most Valuable Player
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1974–1978)
  • 1975 All-NBA First Team
  • 1974 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1973 NBA All-Rookie Team
  • 3× NBA scoring champion (1974–1976)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Pete Maravich
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1973, 1974, 1977–1979)
  • 2× All-NBA First Team (1976, 1977)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1978)
  • 1971 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1977 NBA scoring champion
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 44 retired by Atlanta Hawks
  • No. 7 retired by Utah Jazz
  • No. 7 retired by New Orleans Pelicans
• Nate “Tiny” Archibald
  • 1981 NBA champion
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976, 1980–1982)
  • 1981 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 3× All-NBA First Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1972, 1981)
  • 1973 NBA scoring champion
  • 1973 NBA assists leader
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 1 retired by Sacramento Kings
• Scott Wedman
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1976, 1980)
  • 1980 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1975 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• M.L. Carr
  • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
  • 1979 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1976 ABA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1979 NBA steals leader
• Cedric Maxwell
  • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
  • 1981 NBA Finals MVP
  • No. 31 retired by Boston Celtics
• Danny Ainge
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
  • 1988 NBA All-Star
  • Future NBA Coach & Executive
• Don Chaney
  • 2× NBA champion (1969, 1974)
  • 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1975, 1977)
  • Future NBA Head Coach
• Chris Ford
  • 1981 NBA champion as a player
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986) as a Boston Celtics assistant coach
• Curtis Rowe (1976 NBA All-Star)

After Bill Fitch resigned, Coach Jones succeeded him as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. In his first season as the head coach, the Celtics finished with a 62–20 record, 1st in the Eastern Conference, making a deep playoff run to the NBA finals where they defeated Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games.

The following season, the team finished with a 63–19 record, reaching the finals again, but were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games.

In 1986, the Celtics finished with a 67–15 record, returning to the NBA finals against former Celtics coach Bill Fitch and the Houston Rockets, winning in 6 games. Robert Parish credited Bill Walton as one of the biggest reasons why the Celtics were that dominant that season.

In 1987, the Celtics finished with a 59–23 record, facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers a 3rd time under Jones, losing in 6 games. In his last season with the team, the Celtics finished with a 57–25 record but were eliminated in the conference finals by Chuck Daly and the Detroit Pistons in 6 games.

As of 2026, Jones ranks 6th in most regular seasons wins as a head coach with 308 and 2nd in playoff wins with 65.

Notable Players Coached

• Larry Bird
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
  • 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
  • 1982 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
  • 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 3× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986–1988)
  • 1986 AP Athlete of the Year
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
• Kevin McHale
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)
  • 1987 All-NBA First Team
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983, 1989, 1990)
  • 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)
  • 1981 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 32 retired by Boston Celtics
• Robert Parish
  • 4× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997)
  • 9× NBA All-Star (1981–1987, 1990, 1991)
  • 1982 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1989 All-NBA Third Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 00 retired by Boston Celtics
• Bill Walton
  • 2× NBA champion (1977, 1986)
  • 1977 NBA Finals MVP
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (1978)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1977, 1978)
  • 1978 All-NBA First Team
  • 1977 All-NBA Second Team
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1977, 1978)
  • 1986 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
  • 1977 NBA rebounding leader
  • 1977 NBA blocks leader
  • No. 32 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
• Dennis Johnson
  • 3× NBA champion (1979, 1984, 1986)
  • 1979 NBA Finals MVP
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1979–1982, 1985)
  • 1981 All-NBA First Team
  • 1980 All-NBA Second Team
  • 6× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1979–1983, 1987)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1984–1986)
  • No. 3 retired by Boston Celtics
• Scott Wedman
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1976, 1980)
  • 1980 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1975 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• M.L. Carr
  • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
  • 1979 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1976 ABA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1979 NBA steals leader
• Cedric Maxwell
  • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
  • 1981 NBA Finals MVP
  • No. 31 retired by Boston Celtics
• Danny Ainge
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
  • 1988 NBA All-Star
  • Future NBA Coach & Executive
• Rick Carlisle
  • Future 2011 NBA champion as Head Coach
  • Future 2002 NBA Coach of the Year

Coach Jones became an assistant coach under his former Washington assistant, Bernie Bickerstaff for the Seattle SuperSonics. In his first and only season as an assistant, the SuperSonics finished with a 41–41 record, 9th in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs.

Notable Players Coached

• Shawn Kemp
  • Future 6× NBA All-Star (1993–1998)
  • Future 3× All-NBA Second Team (1994–1996)
• Nate McMillian
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1994, 1995)
  • 1994 NBA steals leader
  • No. 10 retired by Seattle SuperSonics
  • Future NBA Head Coach
• Dale Ellis
  • 1989 NBA All-Star
  • 1989 All-NBA Third Team
  • 1987 NBA Most Improved Player
  • 1989 NBA Three-Point Contest champion
• Xavier McDaniel
  • 1988 NBA All-Star
  • 1986 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Dana Barros
  • 1995 NBA All-Star
  • 1995 NBA Most Improved Player
• Avery Johnson
  • Future 1999 NBA champion
  • No. 6 retired by San Antonio Spurs
  • Future 2006 NBA Coach of the Year
• Michael Cage (1988 NBA rebounding leader)

After Bernie Bickerstaff was elevated to Seattle’s front office, Jones was promoted to head coach. In his first season as the head coach, the team finished with a 41–41, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers in 5 games (3-2). The following season, the SuperSonics had a record of 18-18 before Jones was fired and replaced by assistant coach Bob Kloppenburg and later George Karl.

Notable Players Coached

• Gary Payton
  • Future 2006 NBA champion
  • 9× NBA All-Star (1994–1998, 2000–2003)
  • 2× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000)
  • 5× All-NBA Second Team (1995–1997, 1999, 2002)
  • 2× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 2001)
  • Future 1996 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
  • 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1994–2002)
  • Future 2000 NBA assists leader
  • Future 1996 NBA steals leader
  • 1991 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team selection
• Shawn Kemp
  • Future 6× NBA All-Star (1993–1998)
  • Future 3× All-NBA Second Team (1994–1996)
• Nate McMillian
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1994, 1995)
  • 1994 NBA steals leader
  • No. 10 retired by Seattle SuperSonics
  • Future NBA Head Coach
• Dale Ellis
  • 1989 NBA All-Star
  • 1989 All-NBA Third Team
  • 1987 NBA Most Improved Player
  • 1989 NBA Three-Point Contest champion
• Ricky Pierce
  • 1991 NBA All-Star
  • 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1987, 1990)
• Xavier McDaniel
  • 1988 NBA All-Star
  • 1986 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Dana Barros
  • 1995 NBA All-Star
  • 1995 NBA Most Improved Player
• Derrick McKey
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1995, 1996)
  • 1988 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Avery Johnson
  • Future 1999 NBA champion
  • No. 6 retired by San Antonio Spurs
  • Future 2006 NBA Coach of the Year
• Michael Cage (1988 NBA rebounding leader)

Coach Jones became an assistant coach under his former Celtics player Don Chaney for the Detroit Pistons. In his first and only season with the team, they finished with a 28–54 record, missing the playoffs.

Notable Players Coached

• Joe Dumars
  • 2× NBA champion (1989, 1990)
  • 1989 NBA Finals MVP
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1990–1993, 1995, 1997)
  • 1993 All-NBA Second Team
  • 2× All-NBA Third Team (1990, 1991)
  • 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993)
  • 1991 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1986 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • No. 4 retired by Detroit Pistons
• Grant Hill
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1995–1998, 2000, 2001, 2005)
  • 1997 All-NBA First Team
  • 4× All-NBA Second Team (1996, 1998–2000)
  • 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1995 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Allan Houston (2× NBA All-Star (2000, 2001)
• Lindsey Hunter
  • 2× NBA champion (2002, 2004)
  • 1994 NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Coach Jones returned to the Celtics by becoming an assistant coach under M.L. Carr. In his first and only season in his return, the team finished with a 15-67 record, missing the playoffs.

Notable Players Coached

• Antoine Walker
  • 2006 NBA champion
  • 3× NBA All-Star (1998, 2002, 2003)
  • 1997 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Dana Borros
  • 1995 NBA All-Star
  • 1995 NBA Most Improved Player
• Rick Fox
  • 3× NBA champion (2000–2002)
  • 1992 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
• Dino Rađa
  • 1994 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
  • 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors (2008)
  • Greek League Hall of Fame (2022)
  • FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players (1991)
• Dee Brown
  • 1991 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion

Coach Jones became the head coach of the New England Blizzard, of the women’s American Basketball League. In his tenure, The Blizzard made the playoffs in his second year as head coach, but they were eliminated by the San Jose Lasers.