Nate McMillan, affectionately known as ‘Mr. Sonic,’ is a prominent figure in the world of American basketball.
He has made a name for himself not only as a former player but also as a highly regarded coach.
Currently serving as the interim head coach of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), McMillan has had a storied career in the league, having coached several professional teams such as the Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, and Indiana Pacers.
Also Read:Â Shane Steichen (Colts New Head Coach): Career Stats, Bio, NFL Record, History And Net Worth (2023)
Table of Contents
Nate McMillan: Biography
Nathaniel McMillan, an accomplished American basketball coach and former player, born on August 3, 1964.1
He has an extensive career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he served as a head coach for various teams.
McMillan started his coaching career in 2000, where he was the head coach for the Seattle SuperSonics.
He stayed with the team until 2005, and during his tenure, he made significant contributions that led the team to several victories.
View this post on Instagram
In 2005, McMillan became the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, where he continued to showcase his excellent coaching skills. He stayed with the team for seven years until 2012, where he helped the Trail Blazers to secure several playoffs appearances.
After his tenure with the Trail Blazers, McMillan joined the Indiana Pacers in 2016 as the head coach. He led the team to several playoffs appearances during his tenure, which ended in 2020.
Before his coaching career, McMillan was a remarkable player in the NBA, spending his entire 12-year playing career with the Seattle SuperSonics.
After retiring as a player, he stayed with the team as an assistant coach for one-and-a-half years before being promoted to head coach for almost five years.
Nate McMillan: Personal Information
| Real Name | Nathaniel McMillan |
| Birth Date | August 3, 1964 |
| Age (as of 2021) | 56 Years |
| Birth Place | Raleigh, North Carolina, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Professional Basketball Coach |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sun sign | Leo |
Nate McMillan: Reason For Leaving Atlanta Hawks Explored!
The Atlanta Hawks have made the decision to hire Nate McMillan as their permanent head coach, following a stunning run to the Eastern Conference finals.2
This impressive achievement included an unexpected victory over the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers during the second round of the playoffs.
Despite the team’s current position in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, a brief two-game losing streak prior to the All-Star break was enough to raise concerns over McMillan’s future.
However, the team’s overall performance under his leadership has been commendable, with a solid record of 99 wins and 80 losses.
Last season, despite the addition of Dejounte Murray, the team struggled to find success. However, McMillan’s strategic direction in the 2021 playoffs ignited a strong run that unfortunately wasn’t sustained this year, resulting in an early exit in the first round.
Also Read:Â Is Andy Reid Going to Step Down? The head coach of The Super Bowl Champion Chiefs
Nate McMillan: Professional Career Details
- Nate McMillan was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1986 NBA draft as the 30th overall pick.3
- Throughout his entire professional basketball career, he remained loyal to the Seattle SuperSonics. During his 12-year tenure, he had an average of 5.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.9 steals.
- He still holds the NBA rookie record for the most assists in a single game, jointly with Ernie DiGregorio, with 25 assists.
- McMillan became the primary starting point guard for the SuperSonics after replacing Danny Young midway through the 1986-87 season. He retained this position until he was replaced by Gary Payton, a future NBA Hall of Famer, at the beginning of the 1990-91 season.
- McMillan was a gifted defender who excelled in stealing the ball, which led to him being named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, as well as leading the NBA in steals per game for the 1993-94 season.
- His well-rounded play resulted in four career triple-doubles.
- In the 1995-96 season, McMillan played a crucial role in the SuperSonics’ journey to the NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan.
- During that season, the SuperSonics were the only team to win against the Bulls three times (once in the regular season and twice in the playoffs).
- Nate McMillan is recognized as “Mr. Sonic” due to his 19 years of loyal service to the SuperSonics, which led to his jersey, number 10, being retired by the team.
- In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was a member of the “Big Mac” trio, which included Xavier McDaniel and Derrick McKey.
Nate McMillan: Coaching Career Details
Nate McMillan, a former basketball player, began his coaching career as an assistant under Paul Westphal in Seattle after retiring in 1998.4
When the Sonics fired Westphal in 2000, McMillan took over as the interim coach. During his first year, the team missed the playoffs but he managed to achieve a winning record of 38-29.
Following this, he was hired as the head coach for the 2001-02 season and led the team to the playoffs, ultimately earning him the permanent head coach position.
Over the next two years, McMillan’s Sonics had average records of 40-42 and 37-45.
However, during the 2004-05 season, he coached the team to an impressive 52-30 record in the regular season, and they advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals but lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
In 2005, McMillan left the Sonics after 19 years to become the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite inheriting a team with salary cap issues and off-court controversies, McMillan managed to steady the ship in Portland. His no-nonsense coaching style earned him the nickname “Sarge.”
During the 2009-10 season, McMillan ruptured his right Achilles tendon while scrimmaging with the Trail Blazers during practice.
He continued coaching while wearing a protective boot after surgery and managed to lead the team to 50 wins, despite many of his key players being injured. McMillan coached the Blazers until March 15, 2012.
McMillan also served as an assistant coach for the US national team under Mike Krzyzewski during the 2006 FIBA World Championship and 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning bronze and gold medals, respectively.
He is also a member of the National Junior College Basketball Hall of Fame due to his All-American performance at Chowan.
In 2012, McMillan once again served as an assistant coach for the US national team during the London Summer Olympics.
After serving as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers during the 2013-14 season, McMillan replaced Frank Vogel as the Pacers’ head coach in May 2016, following Vogel’s contract not being extended.
Nate McMillan: Trivia
- In a single game, he tied for the record with 25 assists, which is the most ever recorded for a rookie.
- The year 2021 was the first time in his previous 16 seasons that he advanced all the way to the conference finals.
- Nate received a $25,000 punishment from the NBA for his comment in which he stated that he needs the New York Knicks to make the playoffs.
- He is a man of strong character and had faith in the abilities he possessed, despite the fact that he came from a low-income home. Despite this, he never regarded himself to be impoverished.
Nate McMillan: Wife And Family Details
Nate McMillan, the renowned basketball coach, has been happily married to Michelle McMillan for more than 33 years.
Michelle shares her husband’s love for basketball and was a former player herself at Hickory High School in North Carolina.
Together, they have built a beautiful family and have two children who are also making a name for themselves in the world of basketball and beyond.
The McMillans have two children, a son named Jamelle McMillan and a daughter named Brittany McMillan.
Jamelle McMillan has followed in his father’s footsteps and is now an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, an NBA team. Prior to this, Jamelle was a basketball player himself and played for Arizona State University before starting his coaching career.
On the other hand, Brittany McMillan is a proud graduate of Howard University, a prestigious institution located in Washington, DC. She now resides in the same city and is pursuing her own dreams and passions.
Despite the busy and demanding schedules that come with being in the world of professional basketball, the McMillan family remains strong and close-knit.
Nate McMillan: Net Worth 2023
Nate McMillan’s journey in the NBA spans over a decade, earning him reported career earnings of more than $10 million.
With an average annual salary of over $1 million, McMillan’s professional basketball career was nothing short of successful. But how did he manage to amass such a substantial net worth?
After retiring as a player, Nate McMillan took on a coaching role and has been in the profession for over two decades.
Currently, he serves as the head coach of the Pacers, a position he has held since 2016. His recent contract extension reportedly earns him an estimated annual salary of $2.5 million.
Before his extension, McMillan signed a three-year deal with the Pacers that saw him earn an annual salary of around $2 million. However, with his current contract, his earnings have significantly increased.
Nate McMillan: Achievements
Nate McMillan has had a successful career as a player and coach, with numerous accomplishments to his name.
As a player, he was known for his exceptional defensive skills, and he was recognized for this with a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1994.
As a coach, he has led the Seattle SuperSonics, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Indiana Pacers to multiple playoff appearances.
In the 2019-2020 NBA season, McMillan led the Pacers to a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference with a 45-28 record.
Nate McMillan’s journey to a $10 million net worth is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the game of basketball.
From his successful playing career to his coaching roles, McMillan has proven himself to be a formidable force in the world of basketball. With his recent contract extension, it is evident that he still has a lot to offer the Pacers and the NBA as a whole.
Read More:Â Joe Mazzulla Net Worth 2023 , Salary, Income, Career & The Boston Celtics Interim Head Coach
