Which NBA Coaches are on the Hot Seat this Season?

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In this piece, we look at some of the head coaches in the NBA who will work from the hot seat this upcoming year. Expectations that have not been met will be scrutinized heavily. If any of these guys get the axe, the only question to ask is, how fast will that happen?

Quin Snyder, Atlanta Hawks

Taking over as head coach following the firing of Nate McMillan, Quin Snyder has not had much luck coaching the Atlanta Hawks. He would go 10-11 in the 21 games he coached during the 2022-23 season, following that up with a 36-46 record this past season. With the first part of a potential rebuild happening starting with the trade of Dejounte Murray, the team appears focused on still building around Trae Young. With Young being given the label of a “coach killer” in recent years and the firings of several head coaches not helping his case, another bad season from the Hawks (even with the expectations of being bad this season), could see Synder shown the door as the next step in a potential Hawks rebuild.

Willie Green, New Orleans Pelicans

In his first three seasons as a head coach, Willie Green has had a solid start to his coaching career. In those three seasons, Green has coached the New Orleans Pelicans to two winning seasons. Unfortunately for the Green and the Pelicans, the team has struggled in the postseason the last few seasons. The Pelicans would lose in the first round in 2022 and 2024 and would lose in the Play-In Tournament in 2023. With Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin saying there would be changes to the team, it is expected that change will come. Even though the team traded for Dejounte Murray to pair next to Zion Williamson, the main talking point of the offseason has been the Pelicans being unable to move Brandon Ingram. If the team is unable to move on from Ingram this season, he will become a free agent next summer. If the Pelicans struggle this season, Greene could be forced onto the hot seat as the next person out of the organization.

Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Given the history of Bulls management and ownership sticking with some coaches longer than others, it is a surprise that Billy Donovan has the full support of Bulls management. Donovan would join the team in 2020, leading the team to one winning season. He would receive an extension following that winning season and currently has a couple of seasons left on his deal. Previously coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder, Donovan would leave the team as they moved into a rebuild. With Chicago looking to do the same without expressly saying it, there is speculation on if Donovan will remain with the team. Speculation on Donovan’s future would start earlier this offseason when assistant Maurice Cheeks moved away from the Bulls bench only to end up on the New York Knicks staff while also hiring Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig as assistant coaches and bringing on his son, Billy Donovan III as the G-League Windy City Bulls head coach. With expectations for the Bulls already being low for the 2024-25 season, a complete disaster out of the gate may see Donovan step down as head coach.

Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks

When the Milwaukee Bucks fired first-year head coach Adrian Griffin despite a 30-13 start, many around the league and in the media were surprised. People were more surprised when the Bucks chose to hire Doc Rivers as the team’s next head coach. Criticized for much of his coaching past outside of the 2008 Celtics championship, Doc has faced the most criticism for giving up multiple 3-1 leads in the playoffs. Doc would coach the team to 17-19 record in the Bucks’ last 36 games of the season. The team would lose in the first round, with the main reason being Giannis Antetokounmpo missing the playoffs and Damian Lillard getting hurt in the first round as well. Since winning their championship in 2021, the Bucks have struggled to get back to that level, with their coaches taking most of the fall. Having a top-five player in the league in Giannis and one of the best guards in the league in Lillard, the Bucks are contenders and will be if they have Giannis. With the team around those two aging and teams in the East getting stronger around them, it will be harder for the Bucks to reach their previous heights. If the Bucks struggle in the regular season or see another first-round exit, Doc could very well see himself fired after only one full season as head coach.

JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers

Although it is unfair to have a first-time head coach on the hot seat from the get-go, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is walking into the most difficult coaching role in the league. In the LeBron James era of the Lakers, Redick is the fourth head coach. Many in the media have called the hiring of Redick a LeBron-driven move, with Redick having zero experience as a coach in the NBA or college and the two having a podcast together. As James enters his 21st season, his career is nearing the end along with the Lakers’ championship window. With the team making very few meaningful moves this offseason, the same roster from last season will be heading into the 2024-25 season. Ending up in the Play-In Tournament the last two seasons, experts see the Lakers ending up in the same position this season. If the Lakers have another rough start to their season, Redick will take much of the criticism and much of the blame. He will not be fired though, as long as LeBron remains with the team.