By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday (26/8) that coach Nate McMillan has been dismissed. The Pacers were swept 40-0 by the Miami Heat in the first round of the Eastern Conference.
McMillan becomes the second NBA coach to be fired after his team’s elimination in the bubble, New Orleans Pelicans’ Alvin Gentry (regular season) and 76ers’ Brett Brown (first-round sweep to Boston Celtics).
14 days ago, McMillan had signed a two-year extension with the Pacers.
Per Pacers:
The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday they have relieved head coach Nate McMillan of his coaching duties.
“On behalf of the Simon family and the Pacers organization, I’d like to thank Nate for his years with the team,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “This was a very hard decision for us to make; but we feel it’s in the best interest of the organization to move in a different direction. Nate and I have been through the good times and the bad times; and it was an honor to work with him for those 11 years (in Indiana and Portland).”
McMillan took over coaching duties of the Pacers prior to the 2016-17 season; and in his four years with the team he led them to a 183-136 record, including 3-16 in the playoffs. He has an overall coaching record of 661-588, with 17-36 in the playoffs. McMillan’s 183 wins as head coach of the Pacers is third in the team’s NBA history.
The search for a new coach will begin immediately.