Hot seat index: NBA coaches under the most pressure

NBA head coaches have it rough sometimes. Yes, they're well paid to bark instructions and scribble plays on a whiteboard, but the nature of the game often requires them to take the fall for their players' shortcomings.

The position seems as volatile as ever after the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets fired Taylor Jenkins and Mike Malone with nine and three games left last season, respectively. That also means two established and successful coaches are among those available in the event of an in-season vacancy.

With that in mind, here's a look at five NBA head coaches on the hot seat as the 2025-26 campaign approaches:

The Toronto Raptors enter the season with roughly $197 million on the books and the league's ninth-highest payroll. These expenditures, combined with the wide-open nature of the Eastern Conference, amount to a make-or-break campaign for Rajakovic. A 55-109 record across his first two seasons in Toronto was largely chalked up to a rebuild and injuries. However, the $120 million splashed on Brandon Ingram, coupled with the decision not to trade assets like RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl (who was re-upped on a three-year, $84-million pact) at the deadline, underscores a clear shift in intent from the organization.

Rajakovic was an ideal first-time coach for the Raptors when his ascendancy matched the trajectory of a novice squad working out the kinks. But a glaring example of his inexperience came during an Oct. 28 loss to the Denver Nuggets when he opted against calling a late timeout. The Raptors also owned the NBA's second-worst net clutch rating last season (minus-16.3), which can indicate that the players either didn't respond to the coach, just weren't good enough, or both. The organization is unlikely to have much patience for another underwhelming campaign, regardless of whether Rajakovic deserves to be the scapegoat for this oddly constructed roster.

Thermometer: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (out of five)

The New Orleans Pelicans and their coaching staff can only hitch their rides to the excuses caused by Zion Williamson's repeated injuries for so long. Green is entering his fifth year with the Pelicans, but his 148-180 regular-season record - significantly marred by last season's 21-61 mark - hasn't helped his reputation much despite the litany of obstacles in his way. Even if Williamson returns to his All-Star-caliber self after injuries cost him 52 games in 2024-25, it's hard to fathom New Orleans threatening for a postseason berth in what forecasts to be a bloodbath of a Western Conference.

Last campaign marked a step back for Green after three years of modest improvements, and this upcoming season could be a decisive one. The additions of Jalen McDaniels, Kevon Looney, Jordan Poole, and Saddiq Bey have sparked a roster overhaul. Head of basketball operations Joe Dumars' decision to move up 10 spots in the draft to select Derik Queen in exchange for Asa Newell and an unprotected first-round pick looked misguided on the surface. Then, Queen was ruled out long term due to a wrist injury, which worsened matters. Green is thought to be a likable coach, though that counts for little when the front office continues to put him in a losing position.

Thermometer: 🔥🔥🔥

Perhaps it's the anonymity associated with coaching in the Pacific Northwest or the fact that the Portland Trail Blazers are engaged in a wholesale rebuild, but Billups has flown under the radar in four seasons at the helm. The Blazers are 117-211 in that span, with last campaign's 36-46 record - spurred by a respectable second-half surge - marking Billups' best year. To his credit, the organization hired him to take a Damian Lillard-led team to the next level, not to be a part of a roster reconstruction. For a first-time head coach, Billups has done a respectable job.

An injured Lillard has returned to a young Portland squad with a coach noted for his prowess in player development. Billups is also viewed as a strong defensive orchestrator. However, there are questions about his ability to develop offensive schemes that aren't reliant on isolations and dribble handoffs, which seems inconsistent with his reputation as a facilitating Hall of Fame point guard. Still, Billups' .357 winning percentage is sixth-worst in NBA history for coaches with 300 or more games. If the Blazers fail to inch closer to .500 in his fifth season in charge, it could spell the end for Billups.

Thermometer: 🔥🔥

Former Coach of the Year and NBA champion Nurse has no influence on Joel Embiid's or Paul George's knees. The Philadelphia 76ers' star duo appeared in just 18 games together in 2024-25. As a result, the team slumped to a dire 24-58 record in Nurse's second season in Philly. That's not his fault, nor was Jared McCain's knee injury that ruled out the former Rookie of the Year front-runner for the final 59 contests. The Sixers and their $190-million payroll can't afford to have another lost campaign. While it might not necessarily be Nurse's fault, his job could be at risk if they don't take advantage of the depleted East.

That's not to say that Nurse is infallible and should be absolved from blame because of his pedigree. It's also safe to assume that coaching Tyrese Maxey and a collection of G League-level players isn't what drew him to Philadelphia in the first place. Even with the injuries to Embiid and George, the 76ers had the league's fourth-worst defensive rating (117.5) and the seventh-worst offensive mark (105.6) last season. Except for a four-game winning streak over the holidays, the team underperformed compared to expectations, the half-court offense was a chore to watch, and the vibes were abysmal. A healthy Embiid and George might not be enough to save this sinking ship.

Thermometer: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Stop me if you've heard this before, but Rivers is working on borrowed time. Although it was a minor miracle that he managed to survive a 2-8 start to last season, patience was afforded to the veteran bench boss as Jon Horst and the Milwaukee Bucks front office waited to see how Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard would work together. The Bucks then won 24 of their next 32 games, and things were rosy in Milwaukee. But it was all a facade. Eventually, the pitfalls of a poorly built and imbalanced roster, along with Lillard tearing his Achilles, resulted in another embarrassing first-round defeat to the Indiana Pacers.

Rivers cannot afford to endure another slow start. If Antetokounmpo already has one foot out the door, Horst will not hesitate to excommunicate Rivers in hopes of currying favor with the franchise cornerstone. Here's the thing: the roster is still poor, and Myles Turner's addition won't undo years of mismanagement, especially when Rivers continues to struggle with in-game adjustments and rotations. The Bucks also don't control their first-round draft position until 2031, making roster upgrades a challenging task. It's hard to see this ending well for Rivers.

Thermometer: 🔥🔥🔥🔥