The Indiana Pacers did not have to look far to find their next head coach after the firing of Frank Vogel, as the team promoted 51-year-old Nate McMillan to the position on Monday. The decision comes less than two weeks into the coaching hunt, and McMillan was introduced during a press conference where he seemed confident in his new role, saying "we will respect the game."
He hopes to change the entire atmosphere of the locker room, which was held back by frustration from the team's lack of effort on and off the court. McMillan saw it first hand as an assistant to Vogel the past three seasons.
McMillan has 12 season of playing under his belt, as well as 12 years as a head coach. He coached both Seattle and Portland, going 478-452 in the regular season, and 14-20 in the playoffs. He also has two Olympic gold medals as an assistant to his name.
The former assistant joined Vogel's Pacers in 2013, and his tenure with the team made him the top choice for team president Larry Bird. He wasn't considered a legitimate candidate until the Kings requested an interview with him.
This is a young team that McMillan is taking over, a team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Raptors in seven games. Paul George is still leading the way, trying to get back to what he once was before his broken leg.
Vogel made the playoffs with this team in five of his six seasons, including trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014.
McMillan will lean on the likes of George and even Myles Turner to bring the team over the hump under his leadership. Bird did mention that he would like to have "a real point guard" for the new coach to turn to. This is all an attempt to change a team with a ton of potential, that has been so close to greatness, into a real threat in the Eastern Conference.
He hopes to change the entire atmosphere of the locker room, which was held back by frustration from the team's lack of effort on and off the court. McMillan saw it first hand as an assistant to Vogel the past three seasons.
McMillan has 12 season of playing under his belt, as well as 12 years as a head coach. He coached both Seattle and Portland, going 478-452 in the regular season, and 14-20 in the playoffs. He also has two Olympic gold medals as an assistant to his name.
The former assistant joined Vogel's Pacers in 2013, and his tenure with the team made him the top choice for team president Larry Bird. He wasn't considered a legitimate candidate until the Kings requested an interview with him.
This is a young team that McMillan is taking over, a team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Raptors in seven games. Paul George is still leading the way, trying to get back to what he once was before his broken leg.
Vogel made the playoffs with this team in five of his six seasons, including trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014.
McMillan will lean on the likes of George and even Myles Turner to bring the team over the hump under his leadership. Bird did mention that he would like to have "a real point guard" for the new coach to turn to. This is all an attempt to change a team with a ton of potential, that has been so close to greatness, into a real threat in the Eastern Conference.
