In less than three years at the helm of the Seattle SuperSonics, Nate McMillan has already endeared himself to Sonics faithful as much as a coach as he did during his 12-year career as a player in Green & Gold. In his own words, McMillan describes his coaching style, his childhood basketball idols and his game day rituals.
McMillan and one of his childhood idols, Maurice Cheeks, are rival Pacific Division coaches.
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I WOULD DESCRIBE MY COACHING STYLE AS intense, involved and emotional. I can't sit still – not on the bench, not in the locker room. The game is too emotional and too much a part of me. The day I accepted the head coaching job, I remember feeling like I was a boy becoming a man when I stepped out onto the court. It was a moment in my life unlike any other.
MY LOVE FOR THE GAME OF BASKETBALL BEGAN when I was nine years old. I would follow my older brother Randy to the community center in North Carolina every day. Back then I played everything: basketball, baseball, football. I was good in those sports, too. But by the time I was in high school my love for basketball was clear and I was focusing on it year-round. My brother was my coach. He taught me how the game was played and many other things that I now preach in my role as a coach.
GROWING UP I MODELED MY GAME AFTER a couple of players in particular. I was a Sixers fan, so I liked Maurice Cheeks a lot. But it was Magic Johnson more than anyone that I tried to model my game after. He was a big point guard who passed first and looked to get everyone involved, and I loved that. I have so much respect for Magic, and for him to call me the toughest one-on-one defender he ever faced was a tremendous honor I'll never forget. Ironically, I was able to defend him well because I had modeled my game after his.
THE HARDEST OBSTACLE I FACED GETTING TO THE NBA WAS the fear of not being able to play at this level. I didn't come in with any hype or expectations. For a rookie in that position it is hard to not wonder if you belong in the NBA. When I finally got on the court, that’s when the fear turned into confidence and I felt like I could play with these guys.
EVERY TIME I WALK ONTO AN NBA COURT I still get butterflies. They didn't leave when I became a coach. Whether it's the playoffs or a summer league game, the butterflies and emotions are there and build up until tip-off. It's actually tougher now as a coach. I'm not out on the floor anymore. The things I have to do, I have to do with my head.
MY RITUALS ON GAME DAYS INVOLVE watching videos of opponents, talking tactics with my assistants, drinking a lot of coffee. It starts in early morning and continues all day. I don’t break for lunch. In fact, I never eat on game day until after the game. At 5:30 p.m., I talk to the media, and around 6 p.m. I meet with the players about matchups and our strategy for the night. At 7 p.m., it’s showtime. It’s time to show what you’re made of.
THE FORMER TEAMMATES I MOST KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ARE Derrick McKey and Detlef Schrempf. Derrick and I started here a year apart, and we played when the Sonics were an up-and-coming team like the squad we have here now. Derrick still doesn't hesitate to give me a hard time about my lack of an outside shot. Det is still here in Seattle, so it's great to see him and have him involved with the team. I still hear from many of my old teammates who usually call to offer their support during the ups and downs of the season.
THE FIRST THING I TELL A NEW GUY COMING INTO THIS LEAGUE IS that you have to make a full commitment to this game. Commitment to working hard, commitment to learning, commitment to improving. that’s what it takes to be successful in this league. The best players in the game are still learning and improving each season. This is the highest level of basketball in the world, and there are many players younger and hungrier waiting in the wings. A new player needs to respect the commitment needed to be a successful NBA player. And if you want to play for me, you'd better take that approach.
THE #1 LESSON THAT BASKETBALL HAS TAUGHT ME IN LIFE IS that life is a constant challenge. Whether we win or lose on any given night, my focus quickly switches to the next day and the next game. I wake up with a clear mind and prepare for the day ahead. In basketball, as well as life, you can't get caught reflecting on the past when the future is coming towards you.
AT THE END OF LAST SEASON, I THOUGHT OUR GUYS WERE class acts with respect to their approach to the game. We played solid basketball, we played hard and we played well. They showed a lot of respect for the game and their fans.
