Being an NBA coach is stressful. When a team is underperforming, the coach is often the first to be held accountable. At the same time, as we've seen recently, Milwaukee Bucks coach Adrian Griffin is in a situation where even a good record is sometimes not enough to keep a coach's job. Despite the Bucks' impressive record and a high standout in the East, Griffin was fired.
His departure adds to the list of coaches who have been fired in the past 12 months, a series of fires that occurred in the offseason. From playoff contenders and championship-caliber coaches to veteran veterans, many high-profile coaches have struggled to find themselves in a precarious situation.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the five top coaches who have been fired since 2023.
Five top NBA coaches who have been fired since 2023
5. Dwayne Casey
Dwayne Casey has been successful at all levels of basketball, from winning NCAA championships as a player to winning NBA championships as an assistant coach. In 2018, Casey also won the NBA Coach of the Year award while coaching the Toronto Raptors.
Recently, however, Casey and the Detroit Pistons parted ways after the 2022-23 season, with Casey moving to the management of the Pistons. During his tenure, the team struggled, with a record of 121 wins and 262 losses in five seasons.
4. Mike Budenholzer
Mike Budenholzer, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year award and led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 2021 championship, was fired this summer. The news comes on the heels of the Bucks' first-round playoff exit, and it comes in the context of his brother's death.
His dismissal caused division in the NBA community. Many fans thought it was time for him to part ways with the Bucks. At the same time, others were puzzled by the move. During his tenure, he had a cumulative record of 467 wins and 305 losses as a coach.
3. Doc Rivers
When the Philadelphia 76ers parted ways with Doc Rivers in the summer, many thought it was to keep James Harden. Despite this, Harden eventually forced a move to Los Angeles, leaving Rivers out of work.
Rivers seems to have found his rhythm after switching to a broadcast role, however, he has now returned to coaching and joined the Milwaukee Bucks. Along with the expectations of the fans, time will tell if Rivers can lead the team to a championship.
2. Nick Nurse
Nick Nurse rose to prominence with the Toronto Raptors, progressing from assistant coach to head coach over the course of a decade. In 2019, he led the Raptors to an NBA championship. In 2020, he won the Coach of the Year award.
Despite their accomplishments and a 227-163 record during his tenure, the Raptors and Nurse parted ways this summer. Soon after, Nurse signed with the Philadelphia 76ers and currently leads the team to third place in the East.
1. Monty Williams
Monty Williams led the Phoenix Suns to one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, making it all the way to the NBA Finals. Still, there appears to be a rift between Williams and center DeAndre Ayton, which could lead to his dismissal.
Luckily, the 2022 Coach of the Year quickly got on his feet and was offered a whopping $78.5 million contract to coach the Detroit Pistons. Despite the team's struggles, Williams' contract will give him more years to help turn things around.
Being a coach is fraught with unpredictable situations, from injuries to contract disputes. The ingredients for success are sometimes not in the hands of the coach. As said before, of course, success is not the only measure of a coach's success. Like Adriderian Griffin, who was sacked for losing control of the locker room, the coach's career is full of uncertainty. As we look ahead to the latter stages of the 2023-24 season, only time will tell which coaches will face the fate of being fired.