As the 2024 NBA offseason ends, various teams have new rosters and are looking to make noise when the 2024-25 NBA season begins. The responsibility for bringing these players together falls on the coaches of each team in the association.
Creating an environment that brings the team together results in a successful season. Because of this responsibility a lot of pressure is on the coach to create a championship contender. Here are three NBA coaches who are under pressure heading into October.
Three Coaches Who Are Under Pressure This Season
Mike Budenholzer
Since the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal came together three years ago, the Phoenix Suns have been unable to find a coach who can get the most out of them. Over the summer, the organization hired Mike Budenholzer to come in and coach their players. His experience as a creative offensive mind should help improve Phoenix’s offensive scheme. He also has experience dealing with superstar players from his time in Milwaukee.
Even though he just got the job this summer, there will be pressure on Budenholzer to help Phoenix get to the second round of the playoffs. As a result, of injuries, the trio of Durant, Booker, and Beal have not played together throughout the regular season. That lack of chemistry has hurt the Suns during the postseason. So, it will be up to Budenholzer to do his best to keep his superstar trio healthy, build chemistry, and share the scoring load. If those things happen, then Phoenix will be in great shape to make a deep run in the postseason.
Nick Nurse
During the offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers created one of the most balanced rosters in the association. From top to bottom, this is the deepest roster that Joel Embiid has ever been apart of. As a result, a lot of pressure now falls on Nick Nurse to create a championship contender.
Nurse is entering his second season as the Sixers head coach. It will be up to him to get the players to buy into his system, create team chemistry, and establish the pecking order for his star trio (Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George). If he is able to get all of these pieces to play as a team, then Philly will be in great shape to reach their first NBA Finals since 2001.
Tom Thibodeau
The New York Knicks were very active during the 2024 NBA Offseason. They were able to acquire Mikal Bridges and have created a championship contender in the loaded Eastern Conference. As a result, Tom Thibodeau will be tasked with getting the Knicks to embark on a deeper postseason run after last year’s second-round exit. This is especially true with a starting lineup filled with some of the most dynamic young talent in the league.
If Thibodeau can keep his players healthy, develop good team chemistry, and create a healthy dynamic between his star players (Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Bridges, and OG Anunoby), then the Knicks will be in great shape to contend for a title this season and compete with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers for the top spot in the East.
