An ex-coach -- one frequently fired -- wondered, "Is there an easy job in this league? I don't think so."

Call it perspective.

Head coaching jobs in the NBA offer three-to-five years of security, pay mid six figures to low seven figures and offer enduring rewards for a championship season (or close). It's a profession that very rarely abandons its own as they gravitate down to assistants' jobs, broadcast jobs and scouting positions and up to middle management jobs.

There are different classes of tough jobs in the coaching business: 1) those who have a chance to win because there is at least a thin line of talent available, and 2) those who don't have a chance to win because the roster is bare.

There are those for whom expectations are so high that the pressure to win is acute and irreversible. Whether or not it is true, every loss represents a step toward unemployment, and an early playoff ouster -- worse, no playoff at all -- means public hanging.

So, which head coaches have the toughest jobs and which coaches have the easiest gigs? Let's take a look.

The hardest jobs

	Karl

George Karl, Milwaukee. From the Eastern finals to the lottery in one year and the only major roster move was Anthony Mason, the guy he wanted. Since then, George was coach of the team that disgraced USA basketball in the World Championships at Indianapolis. Owner Herb Kohl so loves his adopted son George he agreed to pay him $7 million a year with a piece of the action. This is more than a guy like George can accept without feelings of deep guilt, and the more the Bucks lose the worse George feels about himself. He separated himself from longtime assistant Terry Stotts, pushed out scoring forward Glenn Robinson and lost some of his best role players. Karl's job: get his players and his owner to believe in him again, freshen his approach and, above all, do something about one of the most divisive players in the NBA, Mason.

	Brown

Larry Brown, Philadelphia. Hey, you saw what AI said, "It's only practice. We're talking about practice." Did LB squirm when he heard that? Did he scream, take a Maalox? We all know of Brown's love of practice repetitions, his impatience and insecurity with his players and his teams. And one year after he took the Sixers to the Finals, the signs are there. Gone is Dikembe Mutombo, for whom he mortgaged the future of the Sixers 18 months ago. In town are Keith Van Horn, whom Brown drafted to trade in the first place; Todd MacCulloch, who he let go as a free agent; and a band of role players -- Brian Skinner, Greg Buckner, Monty Williams and Mark Bryant. Aaron McKie and Derrick Coleman are coming off injuries ... This is a tough job. It comes down to Brown and Allen Iverson. If the little terror goes along with Larry, the Sixers may find ways to win a reasonable number of games.

	Musselman

Eric Musselman, Golden State. Musselman was a minor league GM at age 23, hugely successful in the hinterlands of the game, the son of a legend in minor-league coaching, the late Bill Musselman, as well as his protégé. Chuck Daly recommended the 38-year-old Musselman to the Warriors. The Hawks, who employed him the last two years, enjoyed his enthusiasm, gimmicks and work ethic. Now, he meets up with the Warriors, some of the most confirmed losers in modern-day league history. How does he turn this bunch around? Not easily. Eight straight losing seasons under seven different coaches, including P.J. and the Sprewell Affair. Over the last five years, they've averaged 19.4 victories. He'll need more than gimmicks to turn this franchise around.

	Bzdelik

Jeff Bzdelik, Denver. If Musselman prepared by dominating the minor leagues, Bzedelik took a more conventional approach. He latched on to a great coach, Pat Riley, and gave his life's blood to the man as an advance scout. When Bzedelik realized the travel was too high a cost for his family, he asked to be moved to the bench. When Riley refused, Bzedelik asked for permission to find a new job. Riley refused, waited until last summer, when jobs were gone, and fired Bzedelik. Luckily, Bzdelik hooked up with the Nuggets as a scout. Luckily, they couldn't find anyone else to coach the team. "Lucky for whom?" you might ask. Bzdelik inherits a team that rebelled against Dan Issel, played slovenly for Mike Evans and then dealt Antonio McDyess to the Knicks for Marcus Camby. And that's a tough job.

The easiest jobs

	Jackson

Phil Jackson, Lakers. Ask Red Auerbach. Two three-peats with Michael and Scottie, another three-peat with Shaq and Kobe. Romance in L.A. with the boss' daughter ... Is this guy living a charmed life or what? Fact is, Phil is a great coach, and he's bulletproof. If the Lakers slip, it will be because of injuries or loss of focus on the part of the team's star players, or a bad call by Jesse Kersey that does them in. It won't be Phil. It can't be Phil. Ask that curmudgeon, Red Auerbach.

	Riley

Pat Riley, Miami. He's his own president and he announced that, with Zo gone, the Heat is officially rebuilding. Gets no easier than that. There is no pressure on Riley. He will push his players, cater to the three or four pretty good ones he has and win as many games as a thin talent pool will allow. The owner will feel good, the players will be happy and Riley will be able to sleep at night -- sometimes.

	Rivers

Doc Rivers, Orlando. He has Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill and a bunch of role players with no inside presence except Shawn Kemp (gulp). And if Grant Hill isn't Grant Hill, anymore, it won't be a shock and it will leave the Magic at the lower edge of the playoff pack. Nothing Doc can do with this recipe and it can't hurt him. More and more it appears Orlando is not going to be a major stage in the NBA and that means Rivers will ultimately leave. Hometown Chicago is a spot where he can make his mark. So is his old playground, New York. All that's required is compete like crazy over the short term and he will do that.

	Wilkens

Lenny Wilkens, Toronto. Almost all of his $5 million-a-year salary still comes from the Hawks. So unless there is a calamity, Lenny is safe through next season. It makes sense for the Raptors, who are watching their bottom line north of the border.

Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.