NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Head coach Lloyd Pierce and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 30, 2020 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Hawks 145-141. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
On Monday, the Atlanta Hawks announced that they fired head coach Lloyd Pierce after beginning the NBA season 14-20.
Pierce was in the middle of his third season coaching the team. He was hired before the 2018-2019 season after previously acting as an assistant to the 76ers and the Grizzlies.
“We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization, but the city of Atlanta,” Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said in a statement.
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“He and his wife, Melissa, are tremendous people who have made a positive impact throughout the city. We have high expectations for our team on the court, and we believe by making this change now that we can have a strong second half of the season.”
Throughout Pierce’s first two seasons, the Hawks only won 49 games and entering this season, the team had higher expectations after a very active NBA offseason. Atlanta is currently No. 11 in the Eastern Conference.
Going into this season, the team added Rajon Rondo, Danilo Gallinari, Kris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Solomon Hill in free agency. The team also added veterans John Collins and Clint Capela and is developing young players such as Trae Young, DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish, and Kevin Huerter.
Veteran coach Nate McMilllan, who joined the team as an assistant this past offseason, recently coached the team for two games after Pierce returned home for the birth of his second child. McMillan was previously the head coach of the Indiana Pacers.
McMillan accepted the interim head coaching job.
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