Longest-Tenured NBA Head Coaches

The coaching moves around the NBA have been plentiful in recent months, with 11 teams having made a change since we last ranked NBA head coaches by the length of their respective tenures this past August. Thus, Tyronn Lue, having just taken the Cavaliers job in January, is poised to start next season having been in his job longer than a third of his NBA colleagues.

Four of the top 10 longest-tenured coaches in August are no longer in their jobs, with Frank Vogel, who had been No. 4, the latest to become unemployed. Whispers surrounded current No. 4 Dwane Casey entering this year’s playoffs, but GM Masai Ujiri gave Dwane Casey a strong endorsement as the postseason dawned.

Here’s the current ranking of NBA head-coaching tenures:

  1. Gregg Popovich, Spurs: December 1996
  2. Erik Spoelstra, Heat: April 2008
  3. Rick Carlisle, Mavericks: May 2008
  4. Dwane Casey, Raptors: June 2011
  5. Terry Stotts, Trail Blazers: August 2012
  6. Mike Budenholzer, Hawks: May 2013
  7. Steve Clifford, Hornets: May 2013
  8. Doc Rivers, Clippers: June 2013
  9. Brad Stevens, Celtics: July 2013
  10. Brett Brown, Sixers: August 2013
  11. Stan Van Gundy, Pistons: May 2014
  12. Steve Kerr, Warriors: May 2014
  13. Quin Snyder, Jazz: June 2014
  14. Jason Kidd, Bucks: July 2014
  15. Billy Donovan, Thunder: April 30th, 2015
  16. Scott Skiles, Magic: May 29th, 2015
  17. Alvin Gentry, Pelicans: May 31st, 2015 (remained Warriors assistant through playoffs)
  18. Fred Hoiberg, Bulls: June 2nd, 2015
  19. Michael Malone, Nuggets: June 15th, 2015
  20. Tyronn Lue, Cavaliers: January 22nd, 2016
  21. Earl Watson, Suns: February 1st, 2016
  22. Kurt Rambis, Knicks: February 8th, 2016 (interim coach)
  23. Kenny Atkinson, Nets: April 17th, 2016 (Hawks assistant through Atlanta’s playoff run)
  24. Tom Thibodeau, Timberwolves: April 20th, 2016
  25. Scott Brooks, Wizards: April 26th, 2016
  26. Luke Walton, Lakers: April 29th, 2016 (Warriors assistant until end of Golden State’s season)
  27. Dave Joerger, Kings: Reportedly agreed to deal today

The Grizzlies, Pacers and Rockets jobs are vacant.

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