Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 17
Next
AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Former Detroit Pistons’ coach Chuck Daly (L)hands the Red Auerbach Trophy to Detroit Pistons’ coach Rick Carlisle (R) for being awarded the NBA coach of the year before the second game of the Eastern Conference semi-finals between the Pistons and the Boston Celtics at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, 08 May 2002. (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Former Detroit Pistons’ coach Chuck Daly (L)hands the Red Auerbach Trophy to Detroit Pistons’ coach Rick Carlisle (R) for being awarded the NBA coach of the year before the second game of the Eastern Conference semi-finals between the Pistons and the Boston Celtics at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, 08 May 2002. (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images) /

10a. Pistons Fire Rick Carlisle (June 1, 2003)
10b. Pistons Fire Flip Saunders (June 3, 2008)

These are lumped together because they were both executed by the same guy, former Detroit Pistons vice-president of basketball operations Joe Dumars.

The Pistons have historically been quick on the trigger to jettison coaches—outside of Chuck Daly, no coach in either Fort Wayne or Detroit has lasted more than four seasons on the job.

Rick Carlisle was considered a rising star in the industry after 11 seasons as an assistant coach, the last three for Larry Bird with the Indiana Pacers.

Related Story: 25 Best Players To Play For The Detroit Pistons

Carlisle led Detroit to back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2001-02 and 2002-03, including an Eastern Conference Finals berth in 2003, but when Larry Brown became available, Dumars dumped Carlisle. Of course, Dumars said the move wasn’t about Brown.

INDIANAPOLIS – JANUARY 29: Flip Saunders the Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons gives instructions to Rodney Stuckey #3 during the NBA game against the Indiana Pacers on January 29, 2008 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS – JANUARY 29: Flip Saunders the Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons gives instructions to Rodney Stuckey #3 during the NBA game against the Indiana Pacers on January 29, 2008 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Brown stayed two whole seasons in Detroit, winning a title in 2004 and reaching the NBA Finals in 2005 (even as he was working his way toward a new gig with the New York Knicks) and was replaced by Flip Saunders, the longtime coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

All he did was go 176-70 in three seasons, post a 30-21 record in the playoffs, and make three straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.

In the end, that got Saunders handed his walking papers, as well.

The Aftermath For Carlisle: Carlisle returned to Indiana, this time as head coach, and led the team to the cusp of contention before an incident—coincidentally enough—at the Palace of Auburn Hills early in the 2004-05 season spelled the end for the Pacers as contenders. He later went on to coach the Dallas Mavericks to a title and has been the coach in Dallas since 2008-09.

The Aftermath For Saunders: Saunders sat out a year before returning to the sidelines with the Washington Wizards for two-plus seasons. He later went back to Minnesota as an executive before naming himself coach in 2014. He resigned last fall, shortly before succumbing to cancer at the age of 60.

The Aftermath For The Pistons: Michael Curry was a popular pick as coach among the players, but he was only three years removed from his playing career and had one season as an assistant coach on his resume. So it wasn’t a shocker when Detroit plummeted to 39-43, got swept in the first round and Curry was fired. The Pistons haven’t been back to the postseason since, burning through four more coaches before settling on Stan Van Gundy to run the operation and coach the team in 2014.

Next: A Sonic Boom