It was on August 12, 2020, that the Indiana Pacers and their then-head coach Nate McMillan agreed to an extension.
It made so much sense. The Pacers made the postseason in each of his years at the helm, there’s always been positive buzz around him and the team, Indiana has been snakebit by injuries … it was all good!
But 14 days later — just after a fourth straight first-round exit under the coach — McMillan was fired.
It really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, and that’s really what the reaction was from NBA Twitter. Why extend him if you were going to fire him? What changed in two weeks? Did the front office change its mind that quickly?
Here’s a sampling:
The Pacers have fired coach Nate McMillan in the wake of Miami sweeping Indiana in the first round. Just 14 days ago, the team announced it was giving him a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/8XVBmio9Yr
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) August 26, 2020
From GM Kevin Pritchard's statement just two weeks ago: "What Nate has done in four seasons with our franchise merits this extension. Between injuries and changes in personnel, he and his coaching staff have adapted and produced positive results."
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 26, 2020
Pacers gave Nate less time in the extension than Kardashian gave Humphrey in the marriage.
— Josh Eberley🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) August 26, 2020
This comes as a complete shock, especially with the Pacers and Coach McMillan reaching a one-year extension last August 12 😱😳 pic.twitter.com/MCUDT3QrFd
— Pacers Nation (@PacersNationCP) August 26, 2020
They gave him an extension literally 14 days ago https://t.co/f5kqog8WRq
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) August 26, 2020
The Pacers gave Nate McMillan a 1-year extension and then fired him two weeks later?! pic.twitter.com/8OcD8qSAQv
— Tas Melas (@TasMelas) August 26, 2020
August 12, 2020: Nate McMillan agrees to 1-year contract extension
August 26, 2020: Pacers fire Nate McMillan
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) August 26, 2020
This is so confusing. He received an extension and D’Antoni is already being floated as a replacement?
This team made a playoff run with Oladipo still recovering and played the entire postseason without Sabonis. How do you properly judge McMillan under those circumstances? https://t.co/EqpchxIkAd
— DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) August 26, 2020
