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Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan has agreed to a contract extension.
On Wednesday, McMillan and the Pacers added another year to his current deal, which was set to expire after next season.
“It’s just a one-year extension. I felt that was appropriate for both sides,” McMillan told reporters on a pregame Zoom call. “Normally, I don’t do any negotiations ’till after the season. But this has been an unusual season for all of us—coaches, players and management—and we’d been talking about this. We just thought a one-year extension really was appropriate.”
McMillan has a record of 181-136 in four seasons and needs one more win to break a tie with Rick Carlisle for third in career victories during the franchise’s NBA history. The Pacers have gone to the playoffs each season McMillan has been in charge but Indiana has not advanced beyond the first round since 2014.
“What Nate has done in four seasons with our franchise merits this extension,” president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said. “Between injuries and changes in personnel, he and his coaching staff have adapted and produced positive results. He also represents the franchise, the city and our state in a first-class manner.’’
Before taking the head coaching job, McMillan was the team’s associate head coach on Frank Vogel’s staff from 2013-16. The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals in McMillan’s first season as an assistant.
McMillan’s 659 career wins as a head coach rank 22nd in NBA history.
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Something, finally, in this world, that is positive. This guy is a HUGE plus for the Pacers and the city of Indianapolis.
3-12 record in the playoffs for the Pacers gets him an extension?? …I guess that sounds about right for the mediocre Pacers franchise.
This guy is a B+ NBA coach. There are lots of Cs and Ds out there. He has done a nice job of winning with people hurt which has actually seemed to help if one of Turner, Sabonis and Vic are out of the line up. He deserves the chance to see if they can be even better when everyone is healthy. If they struggle then you look for someone else. Right now he has earned that chance for sure.
This is not the coach to lead them any closer to a championship.
Negativity once rules the conversation
Nate “.500” McMillan – can’t wait to have another mediocre season