NBA Head Coaches by Age: Ranking Every Coach From Youngest to Oldest

The NBA head coaching job may be the most unforgiving in professional sports. Each season brings turnover, and this year was no exception, with three firings and one Hall of Fame retirement reshaping the league’s sidelines. Here’s a look at every current NBA head coach, ranked from youngest to oldest.

NBA Head Coaches by Age

With Gregg Popovich announcing his retirement, he signs off as the longest-tenured head coach in the league and its oldest. One of the greatest to ever do it, Popovich leaves behind a towering legacy.

For Gregg Popovich’s birthday, we look back at some of his greatest interviews.

Never change, Pop 😂 pic.twitter.com/nliOMXuCIC

— ESPN (@espn) January 28, 2019

As of now, the New York Knicks have not named a replacement for Tom Thibodeau, who was let go after the team lost in the Eastern Conference Finals.  As such, here are the 29 current NBA head coaches, ranked youngest to oldest.

1. 1. Joe Mazzulla – Boston Celtics (36) – The NBA’s youngest head coach is also among its most accomplished. In just two seasons, Mazzulla has posted a 182-64 record and led Boston to its first NBA title in 16 years, hanging banner No. 18 overall.
   2. Will Hardy – Utah Jazz (37) – While the results haven’t always shown up in the win column, Hardy’s team-first style and player development have brought excitement to Utah and revitalized the careers of Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen.
   3. Mitch Johnson – San Antonio Spurs (38) – Johnson has one of the league’s toughest jobs: replacing Gregg Popovich and overseeing the growth of generational talent Victor Wembanyama.
   4. Mark Daigneault – Oklahoma City Thunder (40) – With back-to-back one-seeds, Daigneault has developed Oklahoma City into a title favorite, maximizing one of the deepest rosters in the league.
   5. Jordan Ott – Phoenix Suns (40) – Since firing Monty Williams, Mat Ishbia hasn’t found the right successor in Phoenix, with both Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer lasting just one season. Now, the Suns are going in a new direction with a first-time head coach in Jordan Ott, who has been an assistant for close to a decade in the NBA.
   6. Charles Lee – Charlotte Hornets (40) – Tasked with leading the league’s longest active playoff drought, Lee inherits a rebuild that, if successful, could elevate him quickly into elite coaching circles.
   7. JJ Redick – Los Angeles Lakers (40) – In his debut season as head coach, Redick impressed in the regular season but faced growing pains with a first-round playoff exit.
   8. Jordi Fernandez – Brooklyn Nets (42) – Taking over after Brooklyn’s superstar era, Fernandez is charged with restoring stability and culture. So far, he’s shown potential in a tough situation.
   9. Tuomas Iisalo – Memphis Grizzlies (42) – A surprising midseason hire, Iisalo showed flashes in the playoffs but will need more time to prove himself as a long-term solution.
   10. Willie Green – New Orleans Pelicans (43) – Hampered by injuries since his arrival, Green faces pressure from a new front office and will need results sooner rather than later to stick around.
   11. David Adelman – Denver Nuggets (44) – After Mike Malone’s stunning exit, Adelman stepped up and kept Denver competitive with another deep playoff run.
   12. J.B. Bickerstaff – Detroit Pistons (46) – After reviving Cleveland, Bickerstaff sparked a turnaround in Detroit, with Cade Cunningham leading the charge and a return to postseason basketball.
   13. Darko Rajakovic – Toronto Raptors (46) – Toronto’s rebuild has been rocky, despite having young talents like Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. Rajakovic needs to string together wins as soon as possible.
   14. Jamahl Mosley – Orlando Magic (46) – Despite injuries, Mosley has elevated Orlando into a legit playoff team with Paolo Banchero and a renewed defensive identity.
   15. Ime Udoka – Houston Rockets (47) – After leaving the Celtics, Udoka has turned Houston from a lottery team into a second seed in just two years. The next step? Playoff success.
   16. Tyronn Lue – Los Angeles Clippers (48) – Still among the most respected coaches in the league, Lue led a resilient Clippers squad, but postseason inconsistency could force changes.
   17. Chauncey Billups – Portland Trail Blazers (48) – Now leaning into a youth movement post-Damian Lillard, Billups has Portland looking like a future playoff team with an exciting young core.
   18. Brian Keefe – Washington Wizards (49) – Keefe is leading a full rebuild in D.C. Progress has been steady, but his next two seasons will determine if he’s the long-term guy.
   19. Jason Kidd – Dallas Mavericks (52) – Kidd’s track record includes deep playoff runs and player development. Now, hopefully, with a healthier pairing of Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, expectations will go up.
   20. Erik Spoelstra – Miami Heat (54) – The longest-tenured coach with the same team, Spoelstra is synonymous with Miami’s culture and has two titles and six Finals trips under his belt.
   21. Doug Christie – Sacramento Kings (55) – After replacing Mike Brown midseason, Christie held his own, finishing 27-24. He could be the Kings’ next long-term coach with the right backing.
   22. Chris Finch – Minnesota Timberwolves (55) – Finch has brought stability and playoff consistency to Minnesota, guiding the Wolves to back-to-back Western Conference Finals with Anthony Edwards as their motor.
   23. Nick Nurse – Philadelphia 76ers (57) – Nurse’s run in Toronto was stellar, but his time in Philly hasn’t gone as planned due to injuries and playoff shortcomings.
   24. Kenny Atkinson – Cleveland Cavaliers (57) – Atkinson’s first season in Cleveland was a success, earning Coach of the Year honors. But a second-round playoff exit has somewhat muddled expectations for Year 2.
   25. Quinn Snyder – Atlanta Hawks (58) – Snyder is overseeing a reset in Atlanta. His track record gives him a cushion, but results are needed soon.
   26. Steve Kerr – Golden State Warriors (59) – One of the most accomplished coaches in league history, Kerr now faces a new challenge with the Warriors’ evolving core, which now features Jimmy Butler.
   27. Billy Donovan – Chicago Bulls (59) – Hired during Chicago’s big-spending era, Donovan now enters a likely rebuild but helped unlock career years from Coby White and Josh Giddey last season.
   28. Doc Rivers – Milwaukee Bucks (63) – With back-to-back first-round exits despite coaching a roster led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rivers is firmly on the hot seat.
   29. Rick Carlisle – Indiana Pacers (65) – Carlisle has guided Indiana to back-to-back Conference Finals and built a sustainable contender with Tyrese Haliburton as the centerpiece.