ATLANTA – Hawks coach Nate McMillan on Friday said he has no plans to retire mid-season, brushing off a report citing unnamed sources.
The Athletic reported that McMillan is considering stepping down before the end of the season, but McMillan said that was not true.
“We have to prepare for a race,” said McMillan. “We’re trying to get our boys healthy and have another run in the playoffs but you see the things that have been reported, I’m here to coach this year and I’ve got a lot with (owner) Tony Ressler spoken times, and our goal is to make the playoffs. And that’s what I’m working towards.”
McMillan, 58, said he had no immediate reaction to the report. He is well into his third season with the Hawks, who are 17-18 in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
“I read that article briefly,” he said. “I’ve never spoken to this reporter before. I think he has written a few articles over the last two weeks with some sources in our organization making some comments about me and some things I say and do.
“Look, at the end of the year I’ll do what I’ve always done. I’m going to talk to my family and see if that flame, that fire, continues next season, but that’s the end of the season. We all think about retiring, but that’s at the end of the season. We will put this story behind us.”
McMillan took over as coach when Lloyd Pierce was fired in the 2020-21 season and led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. After the season, he received a four-year contract.
McMillan has a 748-656 record in five seasons with Seattle, seven with Portland, four with Indiana and parts of three with Atlanta. He was upset that on December 2, a disagreement with Hawks star guard Trae Young became public during a shooting. Young was injured but missed that night’s game, leading to speculation that McMillan and Young are at odds.
It’s been a busy season in the front office, with Travis Schlenk resigning from his position as basketball department president last week to work as an advisor. General Manager Landry Fields has taken control of day-to-day operations. Fields was promoted to GM earlier this year.
McMillan spent his entire 12-year playing career with Seattle, ending in 1997-98, averaging 5.9 points and 6.1 assists.
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