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List Of NBA Coaches & GMs Fired This Season

UPDATED: June 3rd, 2025 02:00PM

The NBA season has once again captivated fans with its thrilling games and unexpected turns.

As teams fight for glory on the court, the stakes have never been higher.

In a league where triumph and disappointment walk hand in hand, some teams inevitably find themselves at a crossroads.

For the franchises that do so, change often comes and it comes in the form of new leadership, as coaches and GMs are held accountable and fired for their teams’ performances.

The pressure to succeed in the NBA is relentless, and when expectations are not met, it can signal the end of an era for some of the ones whose jobs is to be on the sidelines.

As we look ahead, we’ll be chronicling the List of NBA Coaches & GMs Fired This Season, capturing the shifts in strategy and leadership that could redefine the future of some teams.

Stay tuned as we update this list throughout the season, tracking the ripple effects of these pivotal decisions.

RELATED | List Of NFL Coaches, Coordinators, & GMs Fired This Season

1. Tom Thibodeau – Coached the New York Knicks

Fired on June 3rd

Tom Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, made playoffs in 4 of 5 years and led Knicks to consecutive 50+ win seasons for first time since the 1990s.

2. Mike Budenholzer – Coached the Phoenix Suns

Fired on April 14th.
 
The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after a disappointing 2025 season, finishing 11th in the Western Conference with a 36-46 record, missing the playoffs entirely.
 
This marks the Suns’ third head coach change in three years, highlighting organizational instability, a trend criticized as chaotic by analysts

3. David Griffin – Was Executive Vice President for the New Orleans Pelicans

Fired on April 14th.

New Orleans went 209-263 under David Griffin’s leadership, building a strong roster this season but the team suffering significant injuries.

Pelicans coach Willie Green remains in place as the franchise holds a full search for the next lead basketball operations executive.

4. Calvin Booth – Was General Manager for Denver Nuggets

Fired on April 8th.

The decision follows a challenging season where the Nuggets, currently 47-32, have struggled with injuries and inconsistent performance, going 11-13 since the All-Star break.
 
Tensions reportedly existed between Malone and Booth over team strategy, contributing to the decision.

5. Michael Malone – Coached the Denver Nuggets

Fired on April 8th.

Michael Malone, head coach of the Denver Nuggets since 2015, led the team to a 2023 NBA Finals appearance, making his firing a surprising move given his tenure and success.
 
The Denver Nuggets, a top Western Conference team in recent seasons, may be signaling a strategic shift with this decision, potentially due to unmet expectations in the 2024-2025 season.

6. Taylor Jenkins – Coached the Memphis Grizzlies

Fired on March 28th.

The Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman took sole responsibility for the decision, stating it was “mine and mine only” and in the team’s best interests, but did not elaborate on the specific reasons. 

Jenkins had been the Grizzlies’ head coach for six seasons. 

7. Mike Brown – Coached the Sacramento Kings

Oklahoma City Thunder v Sacramento Kings Source:Getty

Fired on December 27th.

Brown was fired after just over six months of a three-year extension he signed with the Kings in June.

Brown was named Coach of the Year in 2022–2023, leading the Kings to the postseason for the first time in 17 years.