When considering coaches with 50 or more games in the playoffs, Indiana Pacers’ head coach, Nate McMillan, is at devastating 33% (17 wins and 34 losses). With his tenure with the Pacers, they are currently 3-14.
Pacers got swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and by the Boston Celtics in 2018. They are currently 0-2 against the Miami Heat. Their only three wins came in a series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. That is the second-lowest win percentage in playoff history, right behind Mike Fratello � the ex-head coach of Atlanta, Cleveland, and Memphis. Fratello had a crushing 32.2%, with only 20 wins in 62 matches. If the Miami Heat manages to sweep the Indiana Pacers one more time, Nate McMillan will host a winning percentage of 18.75%, becoming No. 1 on this list.
On the other side, the best record belongs to the Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. The ex-Chicago Bulls shooting-guard is at fascinating 73%, with 77 wins in 105 games. His ex-head coach, Phill Jackson, is second-seeded with 229 wins in 333 games.
Contract Negotiations
Nate McMillan has agreed on a contract extension for one more year on August 12th, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
“Normally, I don’t do any negotiations until after the end of the season. This has been an unusual season for all of us � myself, the organization, the NBA. And we’ve been talking about this and thought that one-year extension was really the appropriate thing for both sides,”
Nate McMillan, ESPN
Setting aside the negative playoff record, McMillan managed to reach the final stage of the season in four years as the Pacers’ head coach. He is one of the 26 coaches to win 600 NBA games, currently sitting at 661 wins.
“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. He also represents the franchise, the city, and our state in a first-class manner,”
Kevin Pritchard, Pacers president of basketball operations
Interestingly, Jimmy Butler has played against the Pacers nine times since 2017 and has won all nine games. Twice with the Timberwolves, twice with the Sixers and five times with the Heat.
Despite losing the first two games, the Pacers have shown us throughout the season that they are capable of fighting the Heat. With Victor Oladipo back in the starting lineup and TJ Warren blossoming, Pacers are still in for a turnaround.
