In the NBA it seems that even with skill, a lot of luck is involved, this is the case when the San Antonio Spurs hired recent shock NCAA Champion HC, Larry Brown...and his entourage.
A very average Kansas Jayhawks team shocked the basketball world when after a very average regular season in 1987-88 they upset all the favourites to win the title. Larry Brown then moved to the Spurs that next season and brought with him; RC Buford, Alvin Gentry, Ed Manning and eventually a former volunteer Gregg Popovich who would come back to the Spurs after a change of ownership and a short stint with Don Nelson at Golden State.
I find it amazing that such an ensemble of world class coaches, managers and scouts could just be handed to you like this on a silver platter.