NEW YORK – The NBA fined Atlanta Hawks coach Nate McMillan $25,000 on Thursday for “detrimental public comments asserting bias” after he suggested the NBA “wanted” the New York Knicks in the playoffs.
The Hawks are due to open a first-round series against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
McMillan told reporters in a Zoom press conference on Wednesday he had impressed upon his players that many were delighted to see the Knicks, long a marquee franchise in the league, back in the post-season for the first time since 2013.
“I’ve talked about that to the team a lot,” McMillan said. “I’ve gone as far as saying, the league wants this. They need this. New Yo…
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