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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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Jan 31, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Larry Drew talks with point guard Nate Wolters (6) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 113-102. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Larry Drew talks with point guard Nate Wolters (6) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 113-102. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Bucks Acquire Jason Kidd, Then Fire Larry Drew (June 30, 2014)

Let’s be clear—very little good happened for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 13 months that Larry Drew was their head coach.

Larry Sanders signed a four-year, $44 million extension before breaking his hand in a bar fight and drawing a five-game suspension for failing a drug test for marijuana. O.J. Mayo signed three-year, $24 million free agent deal before clashing with Drew over his conditioning after reporting to training camp looking as if he had been on a mayo-heavy diet all summer.

And amid all of that, the Bucks stumbled to a franchise-worst 15-67 season.

Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Milwaukee Bucks

So a coaching change may not have been the worst thing in the world, but the way it was handled was deplorable. The Bucks already had a deal in place to bring in former Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd, agreeing to send second-round picks in 2015 and 2019 to the Nets in exchange for the rights to Kidd, who was still under contract in Brooklyn.

Two days later, oh, by the way, they got around to formally firing Drew. It was a tacky way for an NBA lifer such as Drew—an NBA assistant coach for 18 years before getting his first head-coaching opportunity with the Atlanta Hawks in 2010—to be treated.

The Aftermath For Drew: Drew wasn’t out of work for long, joining the staff of new coach David Blatt with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2015 and remained on the coaching staff when Blatt was fired last week and replaced by Tyronn Lue.

The Aftermath For The Bucks: Kidd led the Bucks to a surprising 41-41 finish and a playoff berth in his first year, but despite the return of Jabari Parker from an ACL injury and the addition of prized free agent Greg Monroe, Milwaukee has regressed mightily this season, while Kidd missed almost a month because of surgery on his hip.

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