11 NBA Coaches Who Sabotaged Their Own Players
Some NBA careers end because they get smothered by bad coaching. A single voice on the sidelines or making the wrong call night after night can take a rising star and turn them into a cautionary tale before fans even know what happened. Let’s discuss a few coaches who set out to destroy a player.
Stan Van Gundy
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During a 2012 interview, Dwight Howard froze as Van Gundy confirmed that Howard wanted him fired. The incident embarrassed the franchise and shattered team morale. After Van Gundy’s firing and a quick playoff exit, Howard’s career declined significantly.
Tom Thibodeau
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A torn ACL ended Derrick Rose’s MVP-caliber momentum during a 2012 playoff game. With Chicago up double digits and under two minutes left, Thibodeau chose to keep Rose in. The injury changed everything by prompting years of rehab and debate over whether the coach managed his minutes responsibly.
Larry Brown
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Darko Milicic, taken second in 2003, barely saw meaningful minutes under Brown. He found no chance to play or develop, and he never caught up. While Detroit won a title, Milicic floundered on the bench and entered NBA history as one of the most mismanaged high picks ever.
John Kuester
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Pistons players staged a silent protest in 2011 by skipping the shootaround. Kuester had lost control of the locker room, and veterans like Rip Hamilton faced benchings and internal chaos. Under his leadership, Detroit collapsed, and several players never regained the form they once showed in playoff runs.
Isiah Thomas
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A harassment case involving Thomas ended with an $11.5 million settlement against the Knicks. During that turbulent period, Stephon Marbury’s game unraveled. The scandal damaged both reputations and became a defining chapter in a disastrous run marked by poor leadership and off-court controversy.
Mike D’Antoni
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Kobe Bryant played heavy minutes in 2013 despite his age and mounting injuries. D’Antoni refused to ease his workload, and Bryant eventually suffered a torn Achilles. That moment marked the beginning of a physical decline that could have been delayed with more cautious coaching.
Jerry Sloan
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Frustration between Deron Williams and Sloan erupted during a heated 2011 clash. Sloan resigned shortly after, essentially ending a 23-year run in Utah. Williams denied involvement but was traded weeks later. His performance dropped off, and the franchise fell into disarray.
Steve Kerr
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James Wiseman, a highly touted prospect, struggled to get consistent minutes. Kerr’s rotation lacked stability and limited Wiseman’s development and confidence. Sure, injuries played a role, but critics also pointed to a coaching strategy that failed to support a young player who needed a clear path to growth.
Dwane Casey
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Jonas Valanciunas often sat during fourth quarters, sidelined by Casey over defensive concerns. Those decisions prevented him from establishing himself as a full-time closer. Though productive, he wasn’t trusted with leadership on the floor, and his game truly expanded only after leaving Toronto.
Jason Kidd
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When Thon Maker used an Android phone, Kidd reportedly punished the entire team for breaking the iPhone-only group chat. The incident exposed Kidd’s erratic discipline style. It created tension and distrust in the locker room and especially hurt the confidence of young players like Maker.
Scott Brooks
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Despite Harden’s clear potential, Brooks kept him on the bench behind starters. He thrived only in a sixth-man role with limited minutes. After being traded to Houston, Harden immediately became a franchise player.
Jim Boylen
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Chicago’s rebuild suffered under Boylen’s old-school mentality. Players like Markkanen and Carter Jr. saw their development stalled by inflexible systems and outdated schemes. Tension grew in the locker room, and by the time Boylen was replaced, valuable years of early progress had already been wasted.
Kevin McHale
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A secret deal with Joe Smith cost Minnesota five first-round draft picks. McHale, then in the front office, triggered one of the harshest penalties in NBA history. The fallout ruined Smith’s momentum and sabotaged the Timberwolves’ ability to build around Kevin Garnett in his prime.
Byron Scott
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D’Angelo Russell spent too many critical moments watching from the bench. Scott questioned his maturity and kept his minutes inconsistent. That lack of support hurt Russell’s early growth, and it wasn’t until a move to Brooklyn that his skills received the structure and confidence they needed.
Mark Jackson
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Limited ball movement and heavy isolation play defined Jackson’s offense. Barnes was often left in the corner, underused and static. When Kerr took over and introduced a more fluid system, Barnes became an effective two-way contributor.