NBA: Indiana Pacers dismiss coach Bjorkgren after missing play-offs

Nate Bjorkgren was sacked after a season as coach of the Indiana Pacers, who failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015, the franchise announced in a statement on Wednesday.

« The 2020-2021 season has not been at all what we were all hoping or anticipating, and our results on the pitch did not live up to what our organization and our fans were entitled to expect.« said Pacers executive Kevin Pritchard.

The 45-year-old American coach had a difficult first season as head coach in the NBA, with 34 wins and 38 losses. He had just completed four seasons as an assistant coach (two in Phoenix, two in Toronto), including one crowned with an NBA title with the Raptors in 2019.

« Although we do not have a set timeline for our research, we will proceed quickly to identify candidates who will make our team and our organization stronger.« , said Pritchard. The Pacers had been eliminated in the first round of the play-offs in the last five seasons.