5 NBA Coaches Who Need to Retire

By (Analyst) on August 19, 2011

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MIAMI, FL - JUNE 02:  Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat addresses the media after the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Heat 95-93 in Game Two of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 2, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expr
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

I honestly can't come up with a single current NBA coach who I think needs to retire.  For that reason, this is perhaps the toughest assignment I've ever taken on here at Bleacher Report.

Usually when you think of someone who needs to retire, it's a person who is past his prime and therefor hindering the success of whoever he's working for.

There really aren't many coaches in that category, so I'll have to come up with some more creative reasons why these guys should retire...

 

Andy Bailey is on Twitter. 

Mike D'Antoni

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 22:  Mike D'Antoni of the New York Knicks reacts as he coaches against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  NOT
Nick Laham/Getty Images

Reason for Retirement: Defense Wins Championships

I think Mike D'Antoni is a decent coach, but he may be more suited for an assistant's role.  He's a great offensive mind, but he just can't seem to motivate anyone to play defense.

Stan Van Gundy

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 04:  Head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly
Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Reason for Retirement: Potentially Great TV Analyst

Stan Van Gundy always seems to have entertaining or colorful things to say to the media.  I wonder what he would say if he was the media.

His brother Jeff can actually be really good in the right setting (ESPN's awful NBA coverage is not the right setting).  The two of them together could be pretty good.

Don Nelson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 7: Head coach Don Nelson of Golden State Warriors in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves during a basketball game at Target Center on April 7, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  NOTE TO USER:  User expressly acknowledge
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Reason for Retirement: It's Past Time to Hang it Up

Nelson is actually retired right now, but there are rumors of mutual interest between he and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Nelly's zero defense philosophy is not what those players or that organization needs.

Rick Carlisle

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 16: Head coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks during the Dallas Mavericks Victory celebration on June 16, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images)
Brandon Wade/Getty Images

Reason for Retirement: Go Out on Top

Rick Carlisle just led the Dallas Mavericks to the organization's first NBA championship.  Why not go out on top?

Actually, I really hope he doesn't.  I'm a Mavericks fan.

Erik Spoelstra

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 05:  Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat looks on while taking on the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 5, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Reason for Retirement: Let Pat Riley Take a Shot

The Showtime Lakers under Pat Riley was one of the most exciting teams in league history.  He could use the same system in Miami, with LeBron filling the role Magic Johnson did.

LeBron will reach his full potential when he's converted to a full-time point guard.  He's always been more Magic than Michael.

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