The 10 worst current NBA head coaches according to NBA players

 

The 10 worst current NBA head coaches according to NBA players The Athletic surveyed 158 players from all 30 teams at the end of the 2024–25 season. One key question: "Aside from your own coach, who is the worst coach in the league?" Here are the top 10 names that came up the most

10. Michael Malone

Despite guiding the Denver Nuggets to an NBA title in 2023, Michael Malone only garnered 2.7% of the player vote. He was surprisingly fired in April following a four-game losing streak. Known for his intense demeanor, Malone may have clashed with some players.

9. Jordi Fernández

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernández also received 2.7% of the votes. Though he previously served as head coach of Team Canada and held assistant roles in the NBA, his limited head coaching experience may have contributed to his appearance in the top ten. The Nets finished a disappointing 26-56.

8. Doug Christie

Doug Christie transitioned from assistant to head coach of the Sacramento Kings in December 2024. He posted a 27-24 record while navigating the post-De’Aaron Fox era. Christie earned 4.1% of the vote, with players recognizing the early growing pains of his coaching tenure.

7. Darko Rajaković Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajaković received 5.5% of the vote after his team fell nine games short of a play-in spot. With a young core led by Scottie Barnes, Rajaković—whose background is largely in the D and G-League—has yet to lead a veteran-heavy NBA team.

6. Tom Thibodeau In a surprise to many, Tom Thibodeau placed sixth with 6.8% of the vote—despite leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals. His defensive-first approach may not appeal to all players, possibly explaining his position on the list.

5. Nick Nurse Nick Nurse, who won a championship with Toronto in 2019, collected 6.8% of the vote following a tough year in Philadelphia. Injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George derailed the Sixers’ season, but a 24-win campaign was still seen as a major letdown.

4. Charles Lee In his debut season as a head coach, Charlotte’s Charles Lee (8.2%) struggled to elevate a young and inconsistent Hornets roster. Despite coming from a championship-winning Celtics staff, Lee oversaw a team that dropped 63 games.

3. Doc Rivers Doc Rivers was voted third-worst coach by players, earning 12.3% of the vote. Although his Milwaukee Bucks had stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, they finished just 5th in the East at 48-34. Criticisms of Rivers’ late-game management resurfaced, especially as the Bucks ranked 28th in offensive clutch-time efficiency, per BrewHoop.

2. Mike Budenholzer Mike Budenholzer’s first season with the Phoenix Suns was a disaster. Despite having Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, the Suns missed the playoffs with a 36-46 record. His inability to manage egos and underperformance earned him 17.8% of the vote, leaving many to question whether his coaching stock has permanently declined.

1. Brian Keefe Topping the list with 24.7% of the vote, Brian Keefe had a rough year with the rebuilding Washington Wizards. They went 6-41 by the end of January and closed the season at 18-64, posting a -12.2 net rating—among the worst in the past decade, per The Athletic. While Keefe prioritized development for rookies like Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, and Alex Sarr, the lack of experience showed in the win column.