Atlanta Hawks ‘fire head coach Nate McMillan, as assistant Joe Prunty takes over’ with the franchise currently under .500 and eighth in the Eastern Conference
Nate McMillan has been reportedly fired from his position as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hawks are letting go of the second-year head coach with the franchise currently under .500 (29-30).
Per the report, assistant Joe Prunty will be take over the eighth-placed Hawks on an interim basis.
Wojnarowski also remarked the Hawks will look far-and-wide for their next coach. Ex-Utah coach Quin Snyder is ‘expected to be at the top of the list’, while Milwaukee and Golden State assistants, Charles Lee and Kenny Atkinson, are likely to be in the mix.
In late December, McMillan denied a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic he was considering resignation.
‘I have never spoke to that reporter before,’ McMillan said at the time. ‘I think the last two weeks he’s written a couple articles with some sources in our organization are making some comments about me.’
Nate McMillan has been reportedly fired from his position as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks
Lead assistant coach Joe Prunty (C) is said to be taking over as interim head coach of Atlanta
‘At the end of the year I’ll do as I’ve always done. At the end of the season I’ll talk with my family and see if I still have that flame, that fire to continue next season but that’s at the end of the season.’
It’s been a turbulent year for the Hawks amid reports of chemistry issues within the locker room. Team president, Travis Schlenk, also stepped down and moved to an advisory role in December.
McMillan had an disagreement with star Trae Young in early December which resulted in Young staying home instead of suiting up for a December 2 against the Nuggets.
Atlanta had entered this season with expectations of being one of the premier teams in the Eastern Conference after finishing sixth place last year, before only winning one game in the postseason and being eliminated by the Miami Heat.
The organization also traded for all-star point guard Dejounte Murray this summer, adding to hopes.
Murray’s father criticized the team following a 130-114 loss to the Lakers in January.
In 2020-21 McMillan led the Hawks to the team’s first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2014.
Hawks coach Nate McMillan denied a report that he was considering resigning midseason
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