Philadelphia 76ers: 10 head coaching candidates to consider

Sixers coaching candidate: Nate McMillan

A former player, Nate McMillan spent his entire 12-year career with the Seattle SuperSonics. In 1999 — directly after retirement — he joined the staff as an assistant coach, then was named interim head coach in 2000. By 2001-02, he was the full-time Sonics head coach.

McMillan has since spent time in Portland and Indiana, serving extended stints as head coach in both cities. He most recently established the Pacers as a consistent presence in the Eastern Conference playoffs, navigating seamlessly from the Paul George era to the Victor Oladipo era.

The Pacers’ decision to fire McMillan after a shorthanded first round loss to the Miami Heat came as a mild surprise. He has done great things in Indiana, often leading them to better records than the roster would suggest. The Pacers have been beaten and bruised all season — with injuries to Oladipo, Sabonis, and Brogdon, to name a few — and yet, Indiana still finished fifth in the conference.

McMillan is a strong offensive mind with an extensive resume of both success (.529 win percentage) and respect. He’s someone who Embiid and Simmons would presumably acknowledge as a force in the coaching ranks, and is someone the Sixers should thoroughly vet and consider.