Join Sporting News to rank 11 talented and still unemployed coaches. They are the people who can change the face of a team, make a difference and are ready to take on new challenges.
1. Mike Budenholzer
Regular season record: 484-317 (60.4%)
Playoff record: 56-48 (53.8%)
Budenholzer twice won the NBA Coach of the Year title. His teams all had good results in the regular season. In particular, Budenholzer’s peak is the 2021 NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks. It was his 5th ring since coaching. Previously, he won the NBA championship four times with the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant.
Budenholzer is an experienced coach, in both the regular season and playoffs, and is the captain that aspiring teams should always keep an eye on.
2. Chris Quinn
Regular season achievements: Not available yet
Playoff record: Not available
Quinn is a rather unfamiliar name, because he has never been the head coach of an NBA team. Quinn has been an assistant to coach Erik Spoelstra at the Miami Heat from 2014 to present. He went from being a player development coach to continuously upgrading himself and is now Spoelstra’s right-hand man.
Quinn is known as a coach good at player development, and has led the Heat in games where Spoelstra was absent. The most recent was a 144-115 victory over the Hornets last April.
Quinn was once in the sights of the Brooklyn Nets for the captain’s chair. However, in the end, the home team at Barclay Center chose Jordi Fernandez. The Charlotte Hornets held two interviews with Quinn and he was said to have made a “big impression” on the club.
3. Becky Hammon
Regular season achievements: Not available yet
Playoff achievements: Not yet
Similar to Quinn, Hammon has never been the head coach of an NBA team. However, he has affirmed his name through consecutive successes with Las Vegas Aces. Notably, the two WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. In the NBA, Hammon worked under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio for 8 seasons.
Hammon was very close to being the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. However, in the end, the club chose Chauncey Billups.
4. Kenny Atkinson
Regular season record: 118-190 (38.3%)
Playoff record: 1-4 (20%)
Atkinson has reshaped the Nets, taking them from a tanker team to a club that won tickets to the playoffs. Atkinson is famous for his player development skills and friendly approach with in-depth analysis.
Atkinson Almost became the head coach of the Hornets in 2023. However, the 56-year-old assistant changed his decision at the last minute, choosing to continue working as an assistant to Steve Kerr at the Golden State Warriors until now.
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5. JJ Redick
Regular season achievements: Not available yet
Playoff record: Not available
Redick has been fortunate to work with many top NBA coaches throughout his 15-year career. He is famous for being an intelligent player with extensive knowledge of basketball. Not only showing off on the field, Redick repeatedly demonstrated his understanding through his comments to LeBron James on the “Mind the Game” podcast.
Redick is still playing professionally for the Dallas Mavericks at the age of 39. However, this defender has reached the end of his career and has expressed interest in coaching. He was interviewed for multiple positions, including coaching with the Hornets.
6. Terry Stotts
Regular season record: 517-486 (51.5%)
Playoff record: 23-44 (34.3%)
Stotts is an experienced coach, having reached the Playoffs with the Portland Trail Blazers for 8 consecutive years. Among them, once reached the Western finals and only lost to the “super team” of the Golden State Warriors. If looking for an experienced coach, Sotts is a good choice.
7. Sam Cassell
Regular season achievements: Not available yet
Playoff record: None
Cassell had a 15-year assistant coaching career, going through many clubs such as the Wizards, Clippers, Sixers and Celtics. In 2023, Cassell was honored as one of the best assistant coaches in the tournament voted by the GMs of 30 clubs. He received 7% of the vote.
Cassell attracted many teams in the NBA and had an interview with the Houston Rockets in 2023. He is still an assistant for the Celtics.
8. Dave Joerger
Regular season record: 245-247 (49.8%)
Playoff record: 9-13 (40.9%)
Joerger once worked as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings from 2013-2019. However, after that, he decided to become an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers and currently the Bucks.
Joerger is known as a good coach, but one with a strong personality. He had many conflicts with the leadership because of disagreements.
9. James Borrego
Regular season record: 148-183 (44.7%)
Playoff record: 0-0
Borrego made a strong impression after helping the Hornets achieve 43 wins last season. However, he left the team after the 2022/23 season, and Steve Clifford was unable to help the Hornets maintain the same results as under Borrego. This season, they only have 27 wins.
Borrego left the Hornets after two consecutive failures at Playin. However, looking at what the Hornets are going through since Borrego left, the criticism directed at him is considered unfair.
Borrego has championship experience – he won two championship rings while working at the Spurs with Popovich. Borrego also helped the Pelicans achieve great results as their assistant head coach this season.
10. Mike D’Antoni
Regular season record: 672-527 (56%)
Playoff record: 54-56 (49.1%)
D’Antoni’s offensive philosophy has been widely applied throughout the NBA. He made many changes in the NBA and achieved much success in many different teams.
D’Antoni suddenly agreed to step back and become an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets from 2021. He is currently an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans.
11. Mark Jackson
Regular season record: 121-109 (52.6%)
Playoff record: 9-10 (47.4%)
Jackson was the coach of the Warriors from 2011 to 2014. But since then, he has not accepted any more jobs in the NBA. It was Jackson who built the Warriors’ foundation, before it peaked with Steve Kerr.e
