Ranking All 30 NBA Coaches Entering The 2025–26 Season
- ThatManChe
- Jul 10
- 7 min read
With the Knicks hiring Mike Brown, all 30 NBA organizations officially have a head coach for the upcoming season. This offseason’s coaching carousel wasn’t particularly wild, with only two new hires, but that sets the stage for a high-pressure year—one that could lead to chaos in the coaching ranks next offseason. Several coaches will enter the 2025–26 season on the hot seat, and here, I will rank them all.
30. Jordan Ott – Phoenix Suns
Ott steps into his first head coaching role with a Phoenix roster that's in transition, not contention. While it’s far from loaded with star power, the Suns still have enough competitive pieces to test his leadership. As a respected assistant, Ott has a reputation for communication and work ethic. His challenge will be navigating the grind of an 82-game season and establishing a long-term identity for a team searching for direction.
29. Brian Keefe – Washington Wizards
Keefe finished his first full season with the Wizards, but the results were uninspiring. The team lacked cohesion, the defensive identity faded, and young players showed minimal growth. He seems more like a transition figure than a long-term leader—Washington needs more than vibes and familiarity if it wants to build anything real.
28. Darko Rajaković – Toronto Raptors
Now in Year 3, Rajaković has yet to deliver a firm direction in Toronto. The Raptors are stuck in limbo—not contending, not rebuilding—and their offense lacks purpose. He came in with a reputation for development and tactical flexibility, but so far, the product hasn't matched the promise.
27. Charles Lee – Charlotte Hornets
Lee completed his first season with the Hornets, and while the culture shift was visible, results weren’t. Charlotte still struggles on both ends of the floor, and Lee hasn’t figured out how to maximize LaMelo Ball or build around his young core. The Hornets need more structure and clearer identity, fast.
26. Doug Christie – Sacramento Kings
Christie served as interim head coach last season and earned trust in the locker room through his defensive intensity and emotional leadership. Now with the full-time job, he’ll need to show he can handle the full 82-game grind and elevate a roster still looking for postseason consistency.
25. Will Hardy – Utah Jazz
Hardy has shown promise with player development and in-game adjustments. Though Utah has plateaued somewhat, this season isn't make-or-break. The front office sees him as a long-term builder, and the Jazz will countinue to give him time to let his system take full form.
24. Chauncey Billups – Portland Trail Blazers
Billups has failed to turn Portland into anything resembling a competitive team. Development has stalled, his schemes lack creativity, and game management is spotty. He was supposed to bring leadership and edge, but the Blazers often look lost. He’s dangerously close to wearing out his welcome.
23. Mitch Johnson – San Antonio Spurs
Johnson spent last season as the Spurs’ interim head coach, and now the job is his. He’s earned the players’ respect and knows the Popovich system inside and out. With Wembanyama anchoring the team, expectations rise fast. Johnson’s challenge now is proving he can evolve that system into a consistent winner.
22. Billy Donovan – Chicago Bulls
Donovan brings experience, but that’s starting to mean less each season. The Bulls have been stuck in neutral under his watch, and his offensive schemes feel outdated. He’s reliable, but not transformative—exactly the problem for a team craving a spark.
21. Jordi Fernandez – Brooklyn Nets
Fernandez did an admirable job last season managing a rebuilding roster full of flux and uncertainty. His international experience and developmental mindset showed through in the team’s competitiveness. Year 2 will be about system-building and solidifying an identity.
20. Tuomas Iisalo – Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies made a bold hire with the interim head coach Iisalo, a European coaching star known for his high-tempo, motion-heavy system. His vision may fit well with Ja Morant and a retooled roster, but adaptation to the NBA pace, personalities, and grind will be his true test.
19. Willie Green – New Orleans Pelicans
Green’s ability to motivate players is clear, but tactical limitations hold him back. The Pelicans have talent and grit but remain inconsistent. Green needs to grow as an in-game coach and show he can guide this roster to more than just a play-in appearance after a very disappointing season.
18. Doc Rivers – Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks released Damian Lillard and saw Brook Lopez walk in free agency, leaving Rivers with a thinner and more uncertain roster adding Myles Turner will certainly help him though. Rivers still brings pedigree and communication, but he’ll need to reinvent his approach and lean into youth or risk falling behind in the East.
17. JJ Redick – Los Angeles Lakers
Redick’s debut season brought intrigue and solid structure, but postseason struggles showed his inexperience. He’s smart, relatable, and brings fresh ideas, but he needs to prove he can adapt when playoff lights hit. The foundation is there—but so is the pressure.
16. David Adelman – Denver Nuggets
Promoted after Malone, Adelman inherits a team with championship DNA. He understands the system, knows the stars, and has trust in the locker room. Still, this will be his first full season at the helm, and anything short of deep playoff runs will raise questions.
15. Nick Nurse – Philadelphia 76ers
Nurse won a championship in Toronto and still carries that credibility. But results have stalled in Philly, and with Embiid’s window narrowing, the pressure to contend is real. This season feels like a make-or-break campaign for Nurse’s tenure with the Sixers.
14. Quin Snyder – Atlanta Hawks
Snyder brought order to Atlanta, but the team still hasn’t taken the leap. He’s tactically sound and capable of elite offensive schemes, but friction with Trae Young and an unclear pecking order limit progress. Snyder needs buy-in—and results, with much more talent being added to the roster this offseason results may follow.
13. Jamahl Mosley – Orlando Magic
Mosley has been a culture-setter from day one. He’s got the Magic defending hard, playing smart, and staying locked in. What he lacks in offensive flair he makes up for in belief and development. Orlando believes—and it starts with him.
12. Mike Brown – New York Knicks
Brown lands in the Big Apple ready to raise hell. His defensive system fits the Knicks perfectly, and his ability to hold players accountable is a perfect match for a rugged roster. He’s proven, passionate, and brings postseason credibility to Madison Square Garden.
11. Ime Udoka – Houston Rockets
Udoka wasted no time reshaping Houston’s culture. Toughness, defense, and accountability returned instantly. With Kevin Durant now in the mix, Udoka has the star power to push the Rockets from promising to dangerous. If the offense catches up, he’ll be on every Coach of the Year ballot.
10. J.B. Bickerstaff – Detroit Pistons
Bickerstaff already has a full year under his belt in Detroit and has made visible strides. He’s building from the ground up—emphasizing toughness and cohesion in a young locker room. If development continues on this trajectory, he could be a key piece in Detroit’s long-term rise.
9. Joe Mazzulla – Boston Celtics
Mazzulla won a title two years ago, but he enters this season under entirely new circumstances. Jayson Tatum is expected to miss the entire year, and the Celtics have overhauled parts of their rotation to compensate. While his fast-paced, free-flowing offense remains intact, Mazzulla must now prove he can lead a revamped roster through adversity—and keep Boston relevant without its franchise player.
8. Tyronn Lue – Los Angeles Clippers
Lue is one of the league’s best when it comes to playoff adjustments. His teams always look prepared. The issue? Health. If his stars stay upright, Lue can out-coach anyone. He deserves more credit than he gets.
7. Kenny Atkinson – Cleveland Cavaliers
Atkinson already made a massive impact in his first season, leading Cleveland to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and taking home Coach of the Year honors. He’s a system builder, a player developer, and someone who maximizes talent without ego. Cleveland is in great hands.
6. Chris Finch – Minnesota Timberwolves
Finch has done what few believed possible: make the Timberwolves organized and dangerous. His offensive mind is elite, and he’s gotten buy-in from stars and role players alike. Minnesota’s ceiling is the sky with Finch.
5. Jason Kidd – Dallas Mavericks
Kidd led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last year, silencing every remaining doubter. He rebuilt the team’s defensive identity, and is now navigating a roster shift without Luka but Cooper Flagg. He is an all around coaching threat with his playing experience, proof he’s more than just a motivator.
4. Mark Daigneault – Oklahoma City Thunder
The reigning NBA champion and former Coach of the Year, Daigneault delivered a masterclass with OKC. Smart rotations, deep trust in his players, and a modern system built around flexibility and efficiency. He’s now the gold standard for young coaching talent.
3. Rick Carlisle – Indiana Pacers
Carlisle brought Indiana to the Finals and transformed their culture. He’s reinvented himself as a player-friendly, offensive-minded coach who gets the most out of stars and scrappers alike. He’s proving age is just a number in the modern game.
2. Steve Kerr – Golden State Warriors
Kerr didn’t just win—he built a dynasty. His offensive philosophy reshaped basketball, and even with aging stars, his system keeps the Warriors dangerous. No one blends star management, culture-building, and ball movement like Kerr. His fingerprint is everywhere in modern hoops.
1. Erik Spoelstra – Miami Heat
Spo remains untouchable. Year after year, he drags rosters beyond their ceiling and turns chaos into cohesion. No coach blends motivation, strategy, and execution better. He’s the best in the business—full stop.
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Eli Saari