If an NBA player is named Finals MVP, he receives the Bill Russell trophy. If he is the league’s Most Valuable Player, he earns the Maurice Podoloff Trophy. And if a coach is named Coach of the Year, he receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, named for the storied nine-time NBA Championship coach. That’s nine titles in ten years. Add to that another seven as an executive and you have quite an impressive resume.
It is interesting that during that historic Boston Celtics run, he was only named Coach of the Year one time.
In the history of the award since its 1963 inception, eight coaches have won it more than once.