NBA champion with the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics who became more prominent as a successful head coach.
Michael Joseph Dunleavy Sr. was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1954. He won an NBA championship with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 as a reserve guard. His 11-season playing career produced 8.5 points per game across several franchises. His coaching career was considerably more impactful — he coached the Los Angeles Lakers (1990-1992), Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Hornets across a 17-year coaching tenure, reaching the playoffs multiple times with teams that had limited rosters. As a player his greatest contributions were defensive and as a secondary ball-handler — his understanding of the game's strategic dimensions was evident throughout his playing career and became the foundation of a coaching career of considerable achievement. His son Mike Dunleavy Jr. also had a lengthy NBA career.
NBA player turned successful coach, leading multiple teams to playoffs
How They Played
Versatile forward with good basketball IQ, team-first mentality
Lasting Impact
Respected figure who transitioned from solid playing career to accomplished coaching career spanning over two decades
NBA Champion (1979)
Career Honours
- NBA Champion (1979)
- Coached multiple playoff teams