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NBA Coaches Hot Seat Watch: 5 coaches at risk of being fired

By Josh Cornelissen

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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NBA Coaches
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 28: Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas looks on during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on October 28, 2021 in Houston, Texas, NBA Coaches. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

The job of an NBA head coach is an unforgiving one. It involves insanely long hours, intense stress, grueling travel schedules, and a merciless spotlight.

If a team succeeds, the credit usually goes to the star players. If they struggle, it’s the head coach more likely to lose his job before the players; you need stars more than a coach in the NBA.

A small handful of NBA coaches in the league have impenetrable job security (Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr) but most have to deal with the realities of a job that could be snatched away at any time.

Usually, such firings don’t come out of nowhere; there are signs that a coach is “on the hot seat” and in danger of being fired. To measure the heat of that seat, we have developed the Seat Index.

The Seat Index measures NBA coaches on the hot seat. How scorching are their buns? These 5 NBA coaches could each be the next one fired.

The Seat Index analyzes a coach’s situation — the play of the team, the preseason expectations, pressure from ownership, the job security of the front office, the tactical decisions with rotations and play-calls — to measure how hot the seat has become for them.

Steve Kerr has the Golden State Warriors at the top of the Western Conference after winning three titles in his first four seasons; he’s sitting atop a block of ice. His former protege Luke Walton is still in the ICU treating the burns on his bottom.

Let’s look at five NBA head coaches whose seats are uncomfortably warm. How hot have those seats become? The hotter the Seat Index, the sooner they could get fired. Almost certainly the next NBA head coach fired will come from this group. Let’s break the list down.

*Records up-to-date through December 5th, 2021*