As we head into November, some coaches (I’m looking at you, Fizdale) have found themselves already on the hot seat. This power ranking features every coach’s chance of getting fired on a scale of one to five.
Here are the criteria of each grade for reference:
1. Coach’s job is safe
2. Coach’s job is safe unless his team completely collapses
3. Coach has a chance of getting fired after the season if his team underperform
4. Coach has a chance of getting fired mid-season, high chance of getting fired after the season
5. Coach has a high chance of getting fired mid-season
*Records and stats do not include games from Monday, Nov. 11*
1. Los Angeles Lakers
Previous: 3
Record: 7-2
The Lakers’ seven-game win streak ended Sunday night after they couldn’t pull off the comeback late against the Raptors. The only reason I wouldn’t say Frank Vogel’s job is entirely safe is that it was an odd hiring at the time, and if the Lakers underperform, Jason Kidd is right there to take the position.
Frank Vogel: 2
2. Los Angeles Clippers
Previous: 2
Record: 6-3
The Clippers are 6-1 on the season with Kawhi Leonard and 0-2 when he doesn’t play, but the team wants him to be at full strength for the playoffs, so resting him makes sense. With all the turnaround the Clippers had last year, I thought Doc Rivers should have won Coach of the Year, but needless to say, he won’t be getting fired anytime soon.
Doc Rivers: 1
3. Milwaukee Bucks
Previous: 4
Record: 7-3
The Bucks had a solid week, going 3-1, with their only loss coming as a result of a Bojan Bogdanovic buzzer-beater. Mike Budenholzer won COY last year, and he is very well-liked in Milwaukee, so his job is safe.
Mike Budenholzer: 1
4. Boston Celtics
Previous: 6
Record: 7-1
Boston remains the hottest team in the NBA, as their win streak is up to seven games. Brad Stevens has a good relationship with general manager Danny Ainge, but many were calling for Stevens to be canned last season after the team didn’t gel, and a first-round exit this season may mean the end of Stevens’ run in Boston.
Brad Stevens: 2
5. Denver Nuggets
Previous: 5
Record: 7-2
The Nuggets got two game-winning shots from Nikola Jokic this week in their comeback win over Philly, and an overtime win against Minnesota. While the Nuggets organization likes Mike Malone, his contract expires after the season, and he may not survive a first-round exit.
Mike Malone: 2
6. Philadelphia 76ers
Previous: 1
Record: 6-3
After starting the season 5-0, the Sixers hit a rough patch, losing three straight games out west, including blowing a 21-point lead to Denver. There have been several rumors about firing Brett Brown over the past few seasons, and I don’t believe he would keep his job unless the Sixers make it to at least the Eastern Conference Finals.
Brett Brown: 3
7. Utah Jazz
Previous: 7
Record: 6-3
The Jazz had a great week, going 2-0 and hanging on late to beat tough opponents in Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Now in his sixth year with the team, this is easily Quin Snyder’s most talented team, so he may get fired after the season if the Jazz significantly underperform.
Quin Snyder: 2
8. Toronto Raptors
Previous: 11
Record: 7-2
Pascal Siakam has continued to carry the Raptors as they keep playing well, going 3-0 last week. Nick Nurse led the Raptors to a championship last season, and he is well-liked by the team, so he won’t be fired anytime soon.
Nick Nurse: 1
9. Dallas Mavericks
Previous: 12
Record: 6-3
Putting up close to triple-double averages and 27.7 PPG, Luka Doncic is a dark-horse MVP candidate while the Mavericks are exceeding expectations. Rick Carlisle has been the long-time coach of the Mavericks, and now with the team back in contention, his job is entirely safe.
Rick Carlisle: 1
10. Miami Heat
Previous: 9
Record: 6-3
Miami had an underwhelming week, going 1-2 and getting blown out by the Nuggets and Lakers. Eric Spoelstra is someone I’ve always thought was one of the best coaches in the NBA, though, and undrafted talents such as Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson show how good he is with player development.
Eric Spoelstra: 1
11. Houston Rockets
Previous: 14
Record: 6-3
The Rockets got back on track, going 3-0 last week as James Harden seemed to re-find his three-point shot. It’s tough to gel two ball-dominant players, especially since Russell Westbrook is so toxic, but if the Rockets don’t make it past the first round of the playoffs, I can’t see D’Antoni keeping his job.
Mike D’Antoni: 3
12. San Antonio Spurs
Previous: 8
Record: 5-4
The Spurs had a rough week, losing close to the Atlanta Hawks and getting blown out by the Celtics. However, Greg Popovich is arguably the greatest coach in NBA history, and it’s more likely he’d retire long before the Spurs would want to let go of him.
Greg Popovich: 1
13. Phoenix Suns
Previous: 17
Record: 6-3
The Suns continue to be the surprise story of the NBA as they went 1-1 last week, improving to 6-3 on the season. Williams has done a great job with the Suns so far, especially without Deandre Ayton.
Monty Williams: 1
14. Indiana Pacers
Previous: 15
Record: 6-4
The Pacers had a bounce-back week, as they have won three straight games and are getting significant contributions from Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis. Nate McMillan is well-liked in Indiana, and he agreed to an extension at the start of last season through 2020-21, but he could be on the hot seat if the Pacers miss the playoffs.
Nate McMillan: 2
15. Portland Trail Blazers
Previous: 10
Record: 4-6
The Trail Blazers finally snapped their four-game losing streak by pulling away from the Hawks in overtime on Sunday night. Terry Stotts was on the hot seat a few seasons ago after Portland got upset in the first round, and if the Blazers don’t make another playoff run this season, he could be fired.
Terry Stotts: 3
16. Minnesota Timberwolves
Previous: 13
Record: 5-4
While Karl-Anthony Towns is having an incredible season, the Timberwolves’ depth continues to be an issue as the Wolves went 1-3 last week. However, at 33 years old, Ryan Saunders is the youngest coach in the NBA and is very well-liked by the organization, so his job is safe.
Ryan Saunders: 1
17. Brooklyn Nets
Previous: 16
Record: 4-5
The Nets continue to be underwhelming as they got blown out by Phoenix on Sunday night. While Kenny Atkinson sometimes makes wrong lineup decisions, most notably waiting until Game 4 to start Caris LeVert over Rodions Kurucs in the playoffs last season, his job is safe unless the Nets completely collapse this season.
Kenny Atkinson: 2
18. Detroit Pistons
Previous: 19
Record: 4-6
Andre Drummond has single-handedly carried this team with Derrick Rose out, but the return of Blake Griffin will help the Pistons. Dwane Casey is most well-known for getting fired by the Raptors after winning coach of the year in 2018, but he should be safe in Detroit unless the Pistons miss the playoffs.
Dwane Casey: 2
19. Oklahoma City Thunder
Previous: 21
Record: 4-6
The Thunder couldn’t complete a comeback as they lost a close game to the Bucks on Sunday night. The Thunder haven’t made it out of the first round the past three seasons, and with the team in a rebuild, it wouldn’t shock me if the front office went in another direction at head coach.
Billy Donovan: 4
20. Atlanta Hawks
Previous: 18
Record: 3-6
Unfortunately for the Hawks, John Collins got suspended 25 games for PEDs and the team’s chances of making the playoffs shrunk rapidly. Lloyd Pierce was brought on to take the team through a rebuild, and the Hawks are ahead of schedule. His job is safe.
Lloyd Pierce: 1
21. Orlando Magic
Previous: 20
Record: 3-7
Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon have each been wildly disappointing while Mohamed Bamba has barely improved from his rookie season. If the Magic don’t improve soon, they may be ready to move on from Steve Clifford after just one full season.
Steve Clifford: 4
22. Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous: 26
Record: 4-5
The Cavaliers may not be entirely irrelevant this season as they went 2-1 last week with wins over the Wizards and Knicks. John Beilein came over to the NBA after several years with Michigan, and he’s done an excellent job so far. His job is safe.
John Beilein: 1
23. Chicago Bulls
Previous: 22
Record: 3-7
Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn each continued to struggle as the Bulls went 1-2 last week. After a rocky start last season, the team seemed to rally around Jim Boylen and he was rewarded with an extension this offseason. However, if the Bulls are one of the worst teams in the East, Boylen could be fired.
Jim Boylen: 2
24. New Orleans Pelicans
Previous: 23
Record: 2-7
Despite Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart having breakout seasons, the Pelicans continued to struggle, going 1-2 last week. The Pelicans have lost several close games, and Gentry has made several head-scratching moves with his late-game rotations, so he may be on his way out of New Orleans at the end of the season.
Alvin Gentry: 4
25. Sacramento Kings
Previous: 28
Record: 3-6
I won’t give Luke Walton a four or a five because I doubt the Kings would fire him during his first season, but he’s been horrible so far. They definitely should have kept David Joerger after last season.
Luke Walton: 3
26. Charlotte Hornets
Previous: 25
Record: 4-6
The Hornets came back down to where they were expected to be, as they’re now on a three-game losing skid. Similar to the position Brett Brown was in when Philly first hired him, the Hornets understand they’re in a rebuild, and they want Borrego there for the long-run.
James Borrego: 1
27. Memphis Grizzlies
Previous: 27
Record: 2-7
Despite a 1-3 week, Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke continue to be exciting rookies for this team. Taylor Jenkins was somewhat of an unknown when the Grizzlies hired him, but the organization likes him a lot, and there’s no reason to fire him after one season.
Taylor Jenkins: 1
28. Golden State Warriors
Previous: 24
Record: 2-8
With rumors that Steph Curry may be out for the season, this is truly a lost season for the Warriors, who can now focus on getting a top lottery pick. While the Warriors will be horrible this season, Kerr’s job is safe, and the Warriors should be exciting again next season with the returns of Klay Thompson and Curry.
Steve Kerr: 1
29. Washington Wizards
Previous: 29
Record: 2-6
Now, the bottom two. I liked Scott Brooks when he was with the Thunder, but I believe he’s done a very subpar job with Washington. After minimal success with this team, Brooks’ time in Washington is likely running out.
Scott Brooks: 5
30. New York Knicks
Previous: 30
Record: 2-8
The real question is, will Fizdale still have his job by the time this ranking is posted on the site? After a 2-8 start, Knicks president Steve Mills has started the initial groundwork in terms of firing David Fizdale.
Even before Sunday news conference, Knicks president Steve Mills had started to lay internal groundwork for the eventual ouster of coach David Fizdale. ESPN story with @malika_andrews: https://t.co/FqJY7v6WxW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 11, 2019
David Fizdale: 5
