Even though there are numerous free agent dominoes left to fall, the 2014-15 NBA season is fast approaching. Summer League has already begun, and the coaches are beginning to have a chance to influence and grow the ample young talent in the league.
Just as there are tiers separating the talent levels of the players, so too are there tiers when it comes to the best coaches. While it’s true that some of what makes a coach great are the circumstances he inherits (who knows how we look at Gregg Popovich if there’s no Tim Duncan, or Phil Jackson without Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaq), it’s also a fact that not all coaches are created equal. There’s a reason, after all, that some bounce around the league to numerous teams, while others hold down the same job for over a decade.
In such a volatile profession, these rankings can change quickly. The NBA is undoubtedly a players’ league, and the guys on the court hold significantly more sway over a coach’s fate than the coach himself does. However, that does not mean a coach can’t make a big impact on his team, and that’s why we’re Ranking Every Current NBA Head Coach: From Worst to Worst.
Note: The Los Angeles Lakers still haven’t hired a head coach, so the list only contains 29 teams.