[NewAgeBaller]

Pat Riley, according to Sports Illustrated who recently polled 242 players.

Riley is considered the NBA coach players would least want to play for, according to a poll to be released in this week's Sports Illustrated.

The magazine polled 242 players, who could not vote for their own coach. Riley led with 28 percent of the votes, followed by former Bulls coach Scott Skiles (12 percent), Jazz coach Jerry Sloan (12 percent), Knicks coach Isiah Thomas (12 percent) and Lakers coach Phil Jackson (4 percent)

Three of those five coaches (Riley, Sloan and Jackson) are veteran coaches and would almost unanimously be three of the top five coaches in the league.

Is it just that players don't want to be pushed to their limits, or have a coach who would so something radical like take away their minutes to prove a point? Or do you think players generally dislike these coaches more than others?

[croco]

They don't want to play for Phil Jackson ... ?

[bronx43]

I've read that Jerry Sloan is a coach players don't want to play for. I'm surprised about Phil Jackson too, but 4% isn't that big a number.

[HoopTube]

Those players who voted most probably dun have a NBA ring

[HKF]

I think those are the only coaches most of the players know. Seriously, playing for Riley and Sloan isn't that hard, well I guess it is, if you refuse to work hard.

[Foulzilla]

Honestly, I think it's just the big name coaches are who people think about for these polls. For example, despite being on the "least like to play for" list, both Jackson and Sloan were also near the top of the "most like to play for" lists.

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/124357

Which head coach would you most like to play for?

Phil Jackson, Lakers ....... 21%
Mike D'Antoni, Suns ....... 21%
Gregg Popovich, Spurs ....... 15%
Don Nelson, Warriors ....... 10%
Jerry Sloan, Jazz ....... 4%
Rick Adelman, Rockets ....... 3%
Doc Rivers, Celtics ....... 3%
Pat Riley, Heat ....... 3%
Avery Johnson, Mavericks ....... 3%
Nate McMillan, Trail Blazers ....... 3%

Based on a survey of 242 NBA Players

[bronx43]

Originally Posted by HoopTube

Those players who voted most probably dun have a NBA ring

They probably polled the Knicks 15 times.

[Dre™]

Lazy asses.

[southeasy]

probably larry brown.


riley, jackson & sloan never look that bad to me.

[Dre™]

The coach I'd least like to play for is Mike Brown. His practices probably consist of random vision tests for the number 23 and defensive drills.