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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Bryan Kalbrosky

Every head coach to win the NBA Finals since 2015 has been fired except Steve Kerr

As it turns out, winning a championship only goes so far as to help job security if you’re an NBA head coach.

After the Bucks moved on from coach Mike Budenholzer on Thursday, each coach who has won an NBA championship since 2015 except Golden State’s Steve Kerr is no longer with their respective teams.

Following an elimination during the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference, despite leading them to their first championship in franchise history, the Raptors moved on from Nick Nurse last month.

Ty Lue, who won a title with the Cavaliers in 2016, was fired by Cleveland in 2018. Although he won a championship in 2020, meanwhile, the Lakers fired Frank Vogel in 2022.

COACH TEAM YEAR STATUS
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2015
Ty Lue Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 Fired (Oct. 2018)
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2017
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2018
Nick Nurse Toronto Raptors 2019 Fired (Apr. 2023)
Frank Vogel Los Angeles Lakers 2020 Fired (Apr. 2022)
Mike Budenholzer Milwaukee Bucks 2021 Fired (May 2023)
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2022

The news about Budenholzer may not come as a surprise, though, after Milwaukee’s epic collapse against the Heat during the first round of the playoffs.

Nurse, as well as Milwaukee assistant Charles Lee and Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, are considered the top candidates to replace Budenholzer in Milwaukee.

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