The Atlanta Hawks have dismissed coach Nate McMillan, based on ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Hawks are in the midst of a disappointing 29-30 season, which adopted an underwhelming first-round playoff exit a season in the past. Assistant coach Joe Prunty will take over as interim head coach, per ESPN.
With this season seemingly going nowhere, the Hawks have made a transfer that may hopefully spark the group. The final time they made an in-season teaching change, it did simply that. The Hawks fired Lloyd Pierce in the midst of the 2020-21 season and changed him with McMillan. They proceeded to achieve the Eastern Conference Finals, which raised expectations transferring ahead and earned McMillan, initially employed on an interim foundation, the everlasting job.
But McMillan’s old-school sensibilities made him an odd match within the trendy NBA. He obtained right into a dispute with star level guard Trae Young in the midst of the season when Young selected to sit down out of a shootaround so he may obtain remedy for an harm. McMillan instructed Young that he may both come off of the bench that evening or miss the sport solely. Young selected the latter.
This was purported to be a big season for Young and Atlanta, because the Hawks acquired All-Star level guard Dejounte Murray within the offseason to pair with Young. The hope was that Murray’s elite protection would permit him to suit properly with Young once they performed collectively, and that having one other prime level guard would assist hold the Hawks afloat when Young sat. Instead, the Hawks have struggled to play .500 basketball. McMillan is not the one chief being held accountable for these struggles.
The Hawks have skilled vital turnover of their entrance workplace this season, with former basic supervisor Travis Schlenk transferring into an advisory position whereas Landry Fields took over as head of basketball operations. In addition, Nick Ressler, the 27-year-old son of proprietor Tony Ressler, has assumed a significant position within the group’s entrance workplace. With all of these modifications, the Hawks will now search a brand new head coach to assist proper the ship after two mediocre seasons.
Atlanta was McMillan’s fourth head-coaching job within the NBA, because the 58-year-old additionally led the Seattle Supersonics, Portland Trail Blazers and Indiana Pacers. He reached the playoffs with all 4 groups, however by no means obtained to the NBA Finals. Now, the Hawks will attempt to clear that hurdle with a brand new coach, whereas McMillan will enter this offseason’s teaching carousel.
