Gregg Popovich is the G.O.A.T. He may not have 11 rings like Phil Jackson, but having been at the helm of the San Antonio Spurs for 20 seasons, led them to five championships, and unofficially assumed the title of the most woke coach in the NBA, Popovich kind of stands out. Especially among many of the mediocre-to-awful head coaches who have come and gone over the years.
So we took a look at the league every year since Pop assumed control in San Antonio in 1996 to identify the coaches who have been every bit his opposite. These are the coaches who have lost a ton of games, been ridiculed by their fans and the media, or, even worse, have been forgotten. A lot has changed since 1996—find out exactly how much below.
1996-97: Brian Winters
1997-98: Bill Hanzlik
1998-99: Tim Floyd
1999-2000: Garry St. Jean
2000-01: Leonard Hamilton
2001-02: Tim Floyd
2002-03: Sidney Lowe
2003-04: Mike Dunleavy
2004-05: Mike Montgomery
Team: Warriors
Record with team: 68-96
Replaced by: Don Nelson
Popovich record: 59-23
The Warriors were waiting for years to go to the playoffs and it wouldn't come until they fired Mike Montgomery. He was reportedly asked to be let go by their GM, Chris Mullin, in 2004—after his first season with the club—but Montgomery was given one more chance. After finishing 34-48 for a second straight season, he was gone and the Warriors went to the playoffs just one year later.