Indiana: The Indiana Pacers promoted assistant Nate McMillan to head coach on Monday, less than two weeks after the team chose not to renew Frank Vogel’s contract.
McMillan has spent the last three seasons as associate head coach under Vogel. “We will respect the game,” McMillan said during a news conference. “What I mean by respect the game is that you mentally and physically have to prepare yourself to go out and play hard every single night.”
The Pacers’ effort, or lack of it, was a constant source of frustration inside and outside Bankers Life Fieldhouse. And although McMillan sat on the same bench as Vogel’s top assistant the past three seasons, Pacers found enough distinction in McMillan’s personality, style and background to make the change.
“I like what he did in Portland, I like the fact that he’s old-school, I like structure,” said Larry Bird, the Pacers’ president of basketball operations. “I’m not saying Frank didn’t have those things, but I’ve always admired Nate from afar and that’s why it didn’t take me long to decide to bring him in here.”
After spending all 12 of his playing seasons in Seattle, McMillan put together a solid track record in 12 seasons as a head coach with Seattle and Portland. He was 478-452 in the regular season, 14-20 in the playoffs and worked as an assistant with USA Basketball long enough to earn two Olympic gold medals. In 2013, Vogel brought McMillan to Indiana, which gave him three years to develop the kind of relationships with players, staff and Bird that the Pacers hope will lead to a smooth transition.
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Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, who set franchise rookie records in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field-goal percentage, was a unanimous selection for NBA Rookie of the Year Award, the league announced.
The 7-foot Towns becomes the fifth unanimous winner since 1984 and joins teammate Andrew Wiggins, the 2014-15 honoree, to make the Timberwolves the first team with back-to-back winners in 42 years.
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Jim McMillian, a starter on the Los Angeles Lakers 1971-72 team that set an NBA record with 33 consecutive victories, has died at the age of 68.
“Jim was an important part of Lakers history, as a key member of our first championship team in Los Angeles in 1972,” Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement.
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Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas has been ruled out for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night and is doubtful for Game 2 with an ankle injury.