Ranking All 30 NBA Coaches Going Into the 2026–27 Season
With the 2026–27 NBA season right around the corner, I wanted to rank all 30 head coaches heading into the year. There have been plenty of coaching changes around the league, and a lot of guys have something to prove this season. These rankings are based on what each coach has shown so far, along with how I think they stack up going into the new season. Let's get into it.
30. Brian Keefe
This one is simple: Keefe needs to prove himself this season, and he will definitely have the opportunity to do so. The Wizards have some talent to win games. If things go completely sideways, Keefe will likely lose his job, and Washington would become a very intriguing opening for candidates in the offseason. The roster is loaded with young talent, headlined by AJ Dybantsa, along with two solid veterans in Anthony Davis and Trae Young. Washington will need to improve its win total by a solid amount for Keefe to keep his job.
29. Tuomas Iisalo
Iisalo hasn't done much as head coach of the Grizzlies. He got swept in his only playoff series as interim head coach, and then the team struggled this past season. Memphis has now officially entered a new era with Cameron Boozer. His job security really depends on how much the higher-ups in the Grizzlies organization believe in him. He honestly hasn't shown much to prove he's a very good head coach so far, so we'll see if that changes.
28. Micah Nori
This one is simple: Micah Nori was probably the worst hire of this coaching cycle, and he is entering his first full season as an NBA head coach. He has a great opportunity to skyrocket up this list because the Blazers have a pretty talented squad. If things go sideways, though, there is a good chance he could be let go after just one season, given the contract Blazers owner Tom Dundon gave him. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the pressure on him in Year
27. Jordi Fernández
Fernández is probably a better coach than 27th, but he hasn't been able to prove that so far because he's had a young roster that hasn't been very competitive. We'll see if that changes
this season. I think he needs to improve the Nets' win total to keep his job and at least show some promising signs. The East will be very competitive, so that will be a challenge, but expectations aren't super high either. Nobody is expecting Brooklyn to be a play-in team. Just some improvement in the win column would be great for Fernández's job security.
26. Sean Sweeney
Sweeney has been to two of the last three NBA Finals as a top assistant, and he did it with two different teams. Both years, though, his team collapsed in the Finals. Sweeney definitely deserved a head coaching job, and now his time has come. He's taking over a solid Magic team with high expectations. He could be just what Orlando needs to get out of the hole it has been stuck in for the last three seasons.
25. Dusty May
Dusty May might be a first-year NBA head coach, but over the last three years, he has gone from a mid-major head coach to an NBA head coach. That's an insane trajectory. He's taking over a Mavericks squad that could definitely make the playoffs if things pan out and the team stays healthy. It will be interesting to see if his coaching translates to another level once again, this time in the NBA.
24. Doug Christie
Just two seasons ago, Doug Christie took over for Mike Brown after the Kings fired him midseason during a slump. Christie led that team to the second round of the play-in, which was honestly pretty good considering the talent level of that roster. Last season wasn't good at all, but I think Christie showed enough in his first season as an interim head coach to be above some people on this list. He could still be on the hot seat, though, depending on how the season goes, as the Kings are going through a rebuild.
23. Will Hardy
Hardy has definitely shown some traits of a very smart head coach, but he simply hasn't won enough games yet to be any higher on this list. This season is huge for him. The Jazz don't have their first-round pick, and they're aiming to be competitive. This team could definitely be scary, but if things go badly, Hardy will likely be fired. The pressure is on him and the Utah Jazz.
22. David Adelman
Adelman hasn't done much since taking over for Michael Malone. Last season was okay, but then the Nuggets had a complete collapse in the playoffs. This is another guy who is on the hot seat big time entering the season. Denver needs to have a great year, or the futures of several players and people in the organization will be in question.
21. Taylor Jenkins
Taylor Jenkins had a solid run as the Grizzlies' head coach, and Memphis firing him showed that the grass isn't always greener. Things have only gotten worse for the Grizzlies since his firing. Jenkins will now take over the Bucks as they enter a new era. I think this team is better than a lot of people think and could be fighting for a play-in spot come April. I also think Jenkins will have a couple of seasons to prove himself before there's major pressure to win games.
20. Ime Udoka
Just a few seasons ago, Udoka got the Celtics over the hump by leading them to the NBA Finals, but he hasn't had the same success since. He's had some solid regular-season success in Houston, but after three first-round playoff collapses, he hasn't been able to get the Rockets over that hump. If he doesn't do it this season, I think he'll be fired. This is a huge season for Udoka and his career. He needs to get the Rockets past the first round, no excuses.
19. Tiago Splitter
Splitter took over for the Blazers last season, and he honestly exceeded expectations, giving the Spurs a very competitive first-round series. Then Portland decided not to bring him back, and the Bulls picked him up. I think this was a great hire for Chicago. The team might not be very good this year, but you never know. There is definitely some talent on the roster, and we'll see how Caleb Wilson's rookie season goes. Splitter has a nice opportunity to prove himself with this job.
18. Jamahl Mosley
Jamahl Mosley is a solid coach, and I think he's a floor raiser. He helped lift the Magic out of a rebuild and played a big role in developing much of that roster. Now he'll try to do the same for the Pelicans. I believe Mosley is the perfect coach for Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen because he's someone who can get the most out of them. This team also has the talent to win some games in Year 1. I truly believe New Orleans could be a play-in team.
17. Kenny Atkinson
Kenny Atkinson hasn't been anything special since taking the Cavaliers job two seasons ago.
In Year 1, he led them to an elite regular season, but then they collapsed in the playoffs. This past season brought yet another embarrassing playoff outing. The pressure has never been higher, and in a competitive Eastern Conference, things could go sideways quickly for Atkinson. If they do, he could be out of a job by the end of the season.
16. Charles Lee
Charles Lee really got a lot out of the Hornets this past season, and in the second half of the year, they looked unbelievable. Charlotte made some moves this offseason to focus on the development of Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. If this team gets the 10th seed, I would consider that a successful season. Lee shouldn't be on the hot seat either way because he really proved himself last season.
15. Jordan Ott
Ott had an excellent first season with the Suns and led them to a playoff appearance when nobody expected it. He helped improve Phoenix's defense drastically. Ott is the head coach of the future for the Suns, and I believe he will only climb higher on lists like this as time goes on. Phoenix has one of the best young coaching minds in the league. It will be interesting to see if he can keep improving the team in Year 2 and take it to another level.
14. Tyronn Lue
Lue definitely hasn't had the best last few seasons as a head coach, but he's still a very good coach in this league. The Clippers are entering a new era, and if Lue can exceed expectations this season, he'll move higher on lists like this. If things go sideways, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Clippers part ways with him. If that happens, he could definitely get another job quickly if he wanted. It will be interesting to see how things play out for him this season.
13. Darko Rajaković
Rajaković had a rocky first two seasons in Toronto, but last season he took the Raptors to another level before losing a very competitive first-round series to the Cavaliers. With the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors have a very high ceiling this season, and the sky is the limit. Expectations are high once again in Toronto, but if things go sideways, Rajaković could be on the hot seat even after a very impressive season.
12. JJ Redick
Redick has had a solid first two seasons. The biggest thing putting him this high on my list was the Lakers beating the Rockets in the first round this past season without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Redick got the most out of his shorthanded group, and it will be interesting to see how far he can lead the Lakers this season if they stay healthy.
11. Quin Snyder
Quin Snyder is a really good coach, and last season he got the Hawks back on track by leading them to the sixth seed and giving the Knicks their most competitive series of the postseason. I think if Jalen Johnson can turn into a superstar, the Hawks will take another jump this season. Snyder has been known throughout his career for getting the most out of his teams in the regular season. If Atlanta gets another top-six seed in this competitive conference, I think that should be considered a successful year.
10. Mitch Johnson
The Spurs were a machine last season, but I think they could still upgrade at head coach. San Antonio looked pretty scrappy in the playoffs, and it showed in the Finals. I think any team with Victor Wembanyama could be a championship contender. Now, with expectations sky-high for the Spurs, Mitch Johnson will be on the hot seat going forward. Even if things go badly this season, the team could decide to move on from him. He just hasn't shown enough yet to prove he's the long-term head coach. Time will tell.
9. Steve Kerr
Like Tyronn Lue, Kerr has had a few rough seasons in recent years. It isn't all his fault, though. The Warriors' front office has been one of the worst in the league over the last couple of seasons, and this upcoming year doesn't look all that promising for the organization either. Steve Kerr and the Warriors could part ways if this season goes poorly. With Draymond Green and Stephen Curry only getting older, it could be the end of one of the best eras in recent NBA history. Hopefully, the team can have a great start to the year, and maybe at the deadline, the front office can pull the trigger on one last title push with the core that won four championships together.
8. J.B. Bickerstaff
Bickerstaff has been nearly perfect in his first two seasons in Detroit. He helped lead the
Pistons out of a very dark hole. It will be interesting to see if last season's success can be maintained in a conference that will be much more competitive this year. The only reason he isn't higher is that Detroit had a disappointing end to the season in the playoffs, something Bickerstaff has been known for so far in his career. We'll see if this is the season that changes, as expectations are sky-high in Detroit.
7. Joe Mazzulla
Mazzulla has been one of the best coaches in the league over the last couple of seasons, but last season the Celtics had an absolutely disastrous postseason collapse, blowing a 3–1 lead to the 76ers in the first round. That's what's holding Mazzulla back from the top five on this list. Other than that, he has shown very few weaknesses as a head coach so far in his career.
6. Nick Nurse
Nick Nurse showed last season what he can do as a head coach. He had a gem of a performance in the first round, helping lead the 76ers back from down 3–1. I don't think there's a coach with higher expectations this season, though. The 76ers are all in, and I think this team needs at least a Finals appearance or they might quickly shift gears at the head coaching position. This is a major opportunity for Nurse, and he has a really good chance to win his second NBA championship this season.
5. Mark Daigneault
Daigneault has been excellent. He has won 60 games in three consecutive seasons and has won an NBA championship. He isn't higher on this list because of the Thunder's
performance in the Western Conference Finals. They fell in seven games to the Spurs, and although San Antonio is a very good team, there was no reason Oklahoma City should have lost that series. Expectations are high once again for the Thunder, and anything less than a Finals appearance would be considered disappointing.
4. Mike Brown
Mike Brown had an up-and-down regular season, but in the playoffs, he finally got over the hump as a head coach and won his first NBA championship. The 13-game winning streak in the playoffs was generational, and everything clicked for the team. We'll see if the Knicks can go back-to-back this season, something that hasn't been accomplished recently. If they somehow do it, there's no question Brown would be No. 1 on this list a year from now.
3. Chris Finch
Chris Finch is the most underrated coach in the NBA. He has shown that he's one of the best playoff coaches in the league over the last three seasons. With LaMelo Ball now helping Anthony Edwards, the sky is the limit, and I believe this can be a championship team. We'll see if my ranking of Finch gets backed up by how the Timberwolves' season goes, but I do expect this team to win the Western Conference.
2. Rick Carlisle
Even though last season was disastrous for the Pacers, that doesn't take away from what they accomplished the season before. I truly believe they would've been NBA champions if Tyrese Haliburton hadn't gone down. What makes Carlisle stand out is the Pacers' offense, which he has built into one of the highest-scoring, fastest-paced attacks the league has ever seen. This is a big year for Indiana. If Haliburton can get back to the level he was playing at, there's no question this can be a championship-caliber team.
1. Erik Spoelstra
Erik Spoelstra has had a rough couple of seasons, but he's still the best coach in the NBA, no question. Year after year, he gets the most out of his teams, and now with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Heat, they'll be able to compete for championships. The pressure is a little higher for Spoelstra because of that, but every time he's been put in a position like this in his career, he's succeeded.
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