One of the greatest NBA coaches ever to walk the sidelines died on Friday, according to the Utah Jazz.
Jerry Sloan, who coached the franchise for 23 years, died from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia at 78 years old.
Sloan was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 while still coaching the Jazz until 2011. He’s synonymous with the Jazz, of course, but he was the first player to have his number retired by the Chicago Bulls after playing 10 seasons with the franchise and averaging 14 points per game in his NBA career.
Let’s look back at some of the amazing stats from his legendary coaching career:
1. He amassed 1,221 wins in 26 seasons
He ranks fourth on both total wins and years. Just Gregg Popovich, Lenny Wilkens and Don Nelson have more victories in their careers.
2. He won 98 playoff games
That’s sixth all-time, just one win below the great Red Auerbach.
3. He had just one sub-.500 season with the Jazz
That’s WILD.
4. The Jazz were the best team in the NBA over a 15-year stretch
5. Sloan is second all-time for consecutive games coached with one franchise
That’s per the Jazz’s release.
6. Sloan’s consistency is amazing
Here’s more from that release:
Sloan is one of just seven coaches in league history to win at least 50 games in 10 different seasons (Rick Adelman, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich and George Karl).
