SEATTLE -- Paul Westphal was fired Monday as coach of the
struggling Seattle SuperSonics after disagreements with some of his
star players.
The Sonics were expected to be a power this season with the
acquisition of Patrick Ewing, but the team is 6-9 and looking
nothing like a contender. The dismissal comes days after an
on-court shouting match between Westphal and guard Gary Payton
during a game in Dallas.
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Mon, November
27
I feel for Paul because he had a tough situation there. But I think McMillan is a good
choice as his replacement. The players like him. He's knowledgeable, and he has paid his
dues as an assistant. This might be just what the Sonics need. My sense is that he will
get along with all players, including Payton. But they face an uphill battle for the playoffs
in the Western Conference.
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Nate McMillan, an assistant under Westphal and well liked by the
players, was made interim head coach. McMillan, a former Seattle
guard, coaches his first game Tuesday night at Portland.
Also, assistant coach Dwane Casey was named associate head coach for the remainder of the season.
"I think we have to focus on the defensive end of the floor,"
McMillan said. "I believe defense wins games."
Westphal, in his third year with the team, is the first NBA
coach to be fired this season. He was in the final year of his
contract.
"The Sonics are a much better team than their current record,"
team owner Barry Ackerley said. "We are committed to helping this
team achieve its true potential this year as the Sonics have some
of the best talent in the NBA.
"Paul Westphal is a good person and a fine coach. But we felt
that a change was necessary to help the Sonics achieve their goals
for the season."
Ackerley said team president and general manager Wally Walker
made the decision to fire Westphal. Westphal thanked Ackerley for
hiring him.
"They have been great people for whom to work," he said. "I
would also like to thank Wally Walker, my staff and the players who
gave it their all."
Sonics players have not spoken with Westphal since Saturday's
loss at Sacramento. Forward Vin Baker on Monday said he wishes
Westphal the best.
"I don't blame coach Westphal at all," Baker said. "We've had
a rough start. We've got to win basketball games. I think we can be
a great basketball team if we play better defense and cut down on
our turnovers."
Payton declined to comment.
McMillan is philosophical in his approach to the All-Star guard.
"I don't think you can control Gary," he said. "He has to
understand that he has to do things in the best interest of the
team, and I think he will. I think he's the best point guard in the
league, and I'm glad to be coaching him."
On Nov. 6, after a game with Orlando, Payton, Baker and
Ewing reportedly shouted at their teammates about their poor
effort.
Some players questioned Westphal's ability. Westphal, who was in
an office within earshot, reportedly came into the locker room and
said he would step down if that was what they wanted. The dispute
came just four days into the season.
Walker said Westphal was frustrated by his team's bickering and
insubordination.
Payton reportedly told Westphal in the huddle during the
Mavericks game that he didn't care "about this game anymore. You
all can suspend me for the rest of my career." Payton reportedly had thought he heard Westphal tell him to shut up during the timeout.
The next day, Walker announced he was suspending Payton for at
least one game "for conduct detrimental to the team." Hours
later, Walker lifted the suspension, saying Payton had apologized.
Westphal also has had differences with forward Baker,
Payton's teammate on the Olympic team. The coach criticized Baker
for being overweight and out of shape last season and, in the
off-season, was part of an effort to trade Baker to the New York
Knicks in a four-team deal.
The addition of Ewing was supposed to make the Sonics one of the
top teams in the Western Conference. Instead, Seattle has been far
from consistent through 15 games.
Ewing, who said the firing took him by surprise, is Seattle's first legitimate center since Jack Sikma left
after the 1986 season. In his 16th season, Ewing is averaging 31.3
minutes, 10.3 points and 8.9 rebounds. He averaged 15.0 points and
9.7 rebounds for the Knicks last season.
Besides the big threesome of Ewing, Payton and Baker, the Sonics
have young-and-improving Rashard Lewis, top draft choice Desmond
Mason, Ruben Patterson and Brent Barry.
"Things weren't going our way and a lot of pressure was put on
(Westphal's) shoulders," Mason said. "I tried to keep out of the
controversy. I'm just a rookie, I'm just trying to put my game
together."
McMillan played 12 seasons with the Sonics and has been an
assistant coach the past two years. He is the team's career leader
in assists and steals.
Westphal had a 76-71 record with the Sonics. He inherited a team
that won 61 games in 1997-98 under George Karl, but the Sonics
failed to make the playoffs in the lockout-shortened 1999 season.
They made the playoffs last year but were eliminated in the first
round by Utah.
In 1993, Westphal coached Phoenix to the NBA Finals. Three years
later, after 33 games that season, he was fired by the Suns.
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AUDIO VIDEO
 Nate McMillan knows that All-Star player Gary Payton needs to be coached and not controlled.
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Wally Walker comments in the firing of Seattle SuperSonics head coach Paul Westphal.
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The Seattle Union Record's Art Thiel agrees with the firing and looks at the effectiveness of Nate McMillan.
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Does 'The Glove' have the power to give the thumbs up or down? Art Thiel weighs in on the role of Gary Payton.
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Sonics play-by-play man, Kevin Calabro, comments about the firing of Paul Westphal.
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Kevin Calabro, Sonics play-by-play man, expresses Nate McMillian's ability to relate with his players.
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