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NBA: 15 Harshest Coach Firings Of All Time

By Phil Watson

Jan 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt (right) reacts beside forward LeBron James (23) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 108-98. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt (right) reacts beside forward LeBron James (23) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 108-98. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) shakes hands with head coach Lionel Hollins as he comes out of the game in the closing second in game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) shakes hands with head coach Lionel Hollins as he comes out of the game in the closing second in game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Grizzlies Let Lionel Hollins Walk (June 12, 2013)

The Memphis Grizzlies reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in their history in 2012-13, but that wasn’t enough to save Lionel Hollins’ job.

The architect of the “grit-and-grind” in Memphis was not offered a new contract to coach the team after parts of five seasons and a 196-155 record, including an 18-17 playoff mark.

The handwriting was on the wall when the Grizzlies brought in a bunch of new-era analytics types to their front office, who clashed with the old-school coach who had spent 19 seasons as an assistant (and two stints as an interim coach with the Grizzlies) before getting his first reach chance to run an NBA club.

Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Memphis Grizzlies

Besides the strife with the front office, there were reports of conflicts with star Zach Randolph and reserve guard Jerryd Bayless. But it was ultimately “philosophical differences” that did in Hollins in Memphis.

The Aftermath For Hollins: After a year away from the NBA, Hollins resurfaced in 2014-15 as coach of the Brooklyn Nets, who fired him on Jan. 10 after less than two seasons and a 48-71 record (Brooklyn did make the playoffs despite a 38-44 mark last season, but lost to the Atlanta Hawks in six games).

The Aftermath For The Grizzlies: The Grizzlies have played at a slightly faster pace under former Hollins assistant Dave Joerger, but the results have been similar in each of the last two seasons—105-59 in the regular season, 9-9 with one series win in the playoffs.

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