By Brandon Simmons
Atlanta Hawks Interim Head Coach Nate McMillan is no longer with the team; you can now refer to him as Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Nate McMillan. Monday, Hawks beat reporter, Chris Kirschner reported that Atlanta General Manager, Travis Klenck, revealed that the team will make McMillan the next head coach:
ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported the length of the deal to be 4 years:
According to Bleacher Report, McMillan joined the Hawks’ coaching staff in November 2020, while Lloyd Pierce was the head coach. Pierce was fired after the team went 14-20, and McMillan was appointed to be the interim coach. It was a move that changed the course of their season. Atlanta finished the year 27-11 and won the Southeastern Division, a move that propelled to the 5th seed of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Once they entered the postseason, things went another positive level. They won series against the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, giving them their first conference finals trip since 2015, which they unfortunately lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 6 games.
This is a move that will surely be welcomed by many basketball fans, but particularly, the Hawks fanbase. Atlanta put on an impressive playoff run with their young group of talent and that should be accredited to McMillan’s coaching. There’s not a lot of playoff experience with these guys but for them to go on the road and get some big wins this postseason, really speaks to the leadership from the sidelines that provided the poise for them to execute. Even before that, for McMillan to step in and steer this team’s regular season in the right direction, certainly helps him land this position. McMillan is inheriting a young team that he can mold into title contenders, with the addition of a few key pieces and an implementation of his blueprint from the past few months.