NBA

Mike Malone and Taylor Jenkins might not be the last: 5 NBA head coaches on the hot seat

The shock departure of the Denver Nuggets head coach on Tuesday could still spark a run of coaching changes.

Isaiah J. Downing

A journalist, soccer fanatic and Shrewsbury Town fan, Will’s love for the game has withstood countless playoff final losses. After graduating from the University of Liverpool he wrote for a number of British publications before joining AS USA in 2020. His work focuses on the Premier League, LaLiga, MLS, Liga MX and the global game.

Update: Apr 9th, 2025 12:33 EDT

The NBA regular season reaches a thrilling crescendo this week with just three games remaining for the vast majority of teams. At time of writing, 19 of the 20 postseason spots are still undecided and two teams have acted boldly in the hope of generating a late push.

Last month the Memphis Grizzlies decided to move on from head coach Taylor Jenkins, while the Denver Nuggets parted ways with Michael Malone earlier this week. Both the Nuggets and the Grizzlies are currently in the playoff places, and Malone even led Denver to a championship in 2023.

The high-pressure world of elite sports seems particularly intense in the NBA at the moment and those changes may not be the last. Here’s a look at five other NBA head coaches who could be under pressure heading into the postseason...

1. Mike Budenholzer, Phoenix Suns (35-44)

Mike Malone and Taylor Jenkins might not be the last: 5 NBA head coaches on the hot seat — Mike Budenholzer, Phoenix SunsBenny Sieu

At this point, it looks like Mike Budenholzer is occupying the warmest of the NBA hot seats. With a roster including the likes of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Suns really have no excuse for their poor form. Currently down at 11th in the Western Conference, their losing record reflects badly on Budenholzer and after making two coaching changes in the previous two years, it would be no surprise to see Phoenix go three-for-three and part ways with the 55-year-old.

2. Willie Green, New Orleans Pelicans (21-58)

Unlike the Suns, the Pelicans can claim to have been the victim of some debilitating injuries this season. The loss of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram has hurt their chances, while Herbert Jones, Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III have all suffered season-ending injuries. All of that is a mitigating factor but Green’s Pelicans have not won a single postseason game during his three previous seasons with the team and he won’t be finding a first victory this season. New Orleans may decide that a new direction suits all parties.

3. Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers (23-56)

The 76ers have endured a torrid 2024/25 season and have been out of playoff contention for some time. Head coach Nick Nurse was a sensation when he lead the Toronto Raptors to a championship in his first season as a head coach but the project stagnated after the first two years. Now in his second season with the 76ers, Nurse has had a total of 58 games from superstar Joel Embiid and an aging Paul George hasn’t always been reliable. Philadelphia may be looking to move on from those two veterans this offseason and could decide that a change of coach helps them find a new direction.

4. Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks (45-34)

We’re now stepping into ‘harsh sacking’ territory but even current No. 5 seed Milwaukee may have expected better from Rivers during his time in charge. Last year - River’s first with the team - saw them bounced from the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers in the first round and they have regressed this season. Their offense is currently ranked 13th and they look unlikely to progress deep in the postseason. In 2023 the Bucks were quick to move on from Adrian Griffin and bring in Rivers. Now, Rivers may find himself surplus to requirements in the same way.

5. Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks (50-29)

With 50 wins on the board and three regular season games still to play, Thibodeau’s inclusion on this list may seem odd. But both Malone and Jenkins seemed pretty secure before they got the chop and Thibodeau’s Knicks have one major question mark. His reluctance to rotate the team has meant that three Knicks players are in the league-wide top ten for minutes played this season. In each of the past two seasons under Thibodeau the Knicks have fallen at the second round of the playoffs, with tiredness seemingly causing problems. If the same were to happen again this season, the front office may wonder whether a change is needed.