Vigilant Sports Pacers Podcast

Jamelle McMillan is excelling as a coach in the NBA. It wasn’t his plan, but it worked out that way. Jamelle, 28, is the son of Pacers head coach Nate McMillan. He remembers watching his dad play growing up, and was a ball boy for Nate’s Seattle SuperSonics team. The two also worked together with USA Basketball in 2012 when Nate was an assistant. “This game has provided so much for me and my family,” Jamelle said. The youngest McMillan played four years of college basketball at Arizona State University (2007-11), where he averaged 7.2 points, 3.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds during his senior season as the team captain. He then remained in hoops as a Director of Basketball Operations at Drake University, and a year later was hired on Monty Williams’ staff in New Orleans. His title was “coaching intern,” but it was a great start being in his early twenties. After two seasons, Jamelle was promoted to player development coach and later to assistant coach, now under Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. This summer, Jamelle h

Georges Niang, the 50th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, still has a lot to show. His rookie season is behind him, though he didn’t get much of an opportunity nor did he make much of it. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 0.9 points and 0.7 rebounds in 23 appearances during the 2016-17 season where the Pacers finished 42-40. He made several trips north to Fort Wayne to play for their Development League team, the Mad Ants. And after January, Niang played a total of five minutes for the Pacers. Summer League in Orlando was supposed to be a time for Georges to show what he can do. The first time, last summer, can be overwhelming as it comes after the draft and shortly after rookie/free agent camp. It’s a lot at once. This time with one year under his belt Niang was ready … only to suffer a bone bruise in his left knee 87 seconds into the first game. He was then ruled out for the rest of the games. Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes. I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email. Topics

The Pacers went with young talent with great potential in the 2017 NBA Draft. … That’s what a draft is all about, right? Potential. They used their first-round pick on 6-foot-10 forward T.J. Leaf at 18. With ties to the state and city, including his father, Brad, playing at Lawrence North High School, Leaf made it clear to the Pacers that he wanted to be here. Through his agent, through reporters. And that meant something. Leaf, who’s 20, led the 31-5 Bruins with 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds as a freshman. [First reaction: Pacers coach Nate McMillan on T.J. Leaf] Pacers President Kevin Pritchard was then ecstatic to see 18-year-old big man Ike Anigbogu still available when they were up again at 47. He’s raw, and not 100 percent, but the team felt comfortable with their medical evaluations of the “physical specimen,” who’s 6-foot-10 and weighs 252 pounds. Oh, and Anigbogu was also a Bruin for one season. To learn more about these two, I talked with Mike Yam of the Pac-12 Network. He’s a studio host with Ashley

Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard spoke with reporters after the 2017 NBA Draft late Thursday, into Friday morning. The Pacers had drafted three players, including UCLA’s T.J. Leaf at No. 18. It was his first draft with the organization as president, elevated to this role after Larry Bird decided to step down. But for more than 17 minutes, the conversation centered around Paul George and his change of heart, according to Pritchard, who spoke candidly but was obviously frustrated. “For me it was a gut-punch,” he said. “It was a total gut-punch because we’d had many conversations over the summer about players that we’d like to add, a little bit of the style that we’d like to play, and I was, in my opinion, very inclusive with him. And the message over the summer, up until this weekend was ‘Let’s build a winning team.’ And so when that came in that he wanted to look at another place, it was a gut-punch for us.” With the draft now over, George remains a Pacer. Pritchard, admitting that Geo

At No. 18, the Pacers drafted T.J. Leaf out of UCLA. He was born in Tel Aviv, Israel while his father played professionally basketball. Leaf, who played just one year of college basketball, met with the Pacers Draft Combine in Chicago and then came to Indianapolis for a workout on May 23. Leaf’s father, Brad, attended Lawrence North High School and he has roots in Indianapolis and Evansville. See Also: T.J. Leaf discusses getting drafted by the Pacers Shortly after the Pacers’ selection, head coach Nate McMillan came down to the media room to talk about Leaf’s game and what he’ll bring to the Pacers. “He’s a very skillful big guy that can spread the floor,” McMillan said. “I think his basketball IQ is very high. His ability to spread the floor from the 3-point line. He can put the ball on the floor. He can pass the ball. His ability to stretch the floor I thought was the main thing that he did well. Defensively, he’s going to have to work in that area.” Watch McMillan’s first comments on Leaf below: AUDIO:

Brian Windhorst is one of the best NBA reporters. He first started in the business with the Akron Beacon Journal, and as a young reporter he was assigned to go check out a stud basketball player with great potential. It turned out, it was LeBron James, who attended the very same high school Windhorst attended: St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio. Windhorst is now a led NBA reporter for ESPN and his work appears on all of their networks, plus ESPN.com and various podcasts. With the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, it seems like every time I look up at my television, which is on ESPN, there is Windy. That’s why I appreciated him spending some time with me on Friday. He continues to be a great friend and mentor to me, and for that I am thankful. After the Cavaliers improbable 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals last year, it was a no-brianer for Windhorst to author a book on LeBron, and his return which led to a title. “Return of the King: LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Greatest Comeback in NBA History“ Su

You see Sage Steele all the time on ESPN … on NBA coverage, on SportsCenter, on SportsCenter On the Road. She’s a self-proclaimed military brat, moving around frequently as a child. She eventually graduated from Carmel High School and Indiana University, and would later work at WISH-TV in Indianapolis before ultimately ended up at The Worldwide Leader. She remains a Pacers fan, and she’s raising her three kids — in the sixth, eighth, and tenth grades — to be fans of the Indiana teams as well. Steele will soon be moving back to Bristol, Connecticut to host SportsCenter AM – which, as she explains, should get back to the highlight-filled rehash in the world of sports that we all enjoyed until the format changed several years ago. She’s a great follow both on Twitter and Instagram. VIDEO: Sage Steele at IU Commencement — ‘Choose the Harder Right Over Easier Wrong’ Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes. I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email. Topics Discussed: * Covering h

C.J. Miles will decline his player option and is set to become a free agent on July 1, the Pacers’ versatile forward confirmed to VigilantSports.com on Tuesday. This move was entirely expected considering he was set to pull in $4.772 million for the final year of a four-year deal he signed in 2014 worth $18 million. The news was first reported by Ben Gibson of 8points9seconds.com. “If it does come to opting out, it’s not because I want to leave. It’s just solely a business decision,” Miles told VigilantSports.com last month. “It’s just solely because it would be in the best interest of myself, my family, and the people that I have around me.” Just last offseason, Miles saw Solomon Hill ($58 million) and Ian Mahinmi ($64 million) move on from the Pacers to sign lucrative new contracts elsewhere. With New Orleans and Washington, respectively. Miles, meanwhile, has earned an estimated $34.265 million over his 12 seasons in the NBA, according to Basketball-Reference.com. He was drafted 34th overall by Utah in 200

Indy officially put in a bid for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game last week. On Monday, April 24 — deadline day for 2020 and 2021 bids to be sent in — Larry Bird and Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports & Entertainment President, delivered Indy’s plans to the NBA Headquarters in downtown Manhattan. And, of course, they did it in style. As in Bird riding five blocks in a specially-designed IndyCar. Talk about making a strong impression… [Commissioner Adam Silver on Indy hosting All-Star Weekend: ‘The ball is in their court’] One man who has plays an important role in Indianapolis hosting big events is Ryan Vaughn, the President of Indiana Sports Corp. This is a world-class organization that is one of the main reasons why this city continues to attract and excel at putting on events like Big Ten Football Championship Game, the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, the Final Four, and the 2012 Super Bowl. Vaughn attended Wabash College and was a swimmer. He then earned his law degree and practiced in downtown Indi

Kevin Pritchard was officially promoted to President of Basketball Operations of the Indiana Pacers Monday. The move was made after Larry Bird decided to slide into a part-time advisory role. “I want to thank Herb, Larry and Donnie (Walsh) for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Pritchard, who had been the team’s general manager since 2012. “As someone who grew up in Indiana, I’ve always felt the Pacers’ pride. The goal is always going to be the same as it has been through Donnie and Larry: to make this a world-class organization.” [Get to know Pacers executive Kevin Pritchard] “I’m very happy Kevin is stepping in and glad another Hoosier is in line to take over this job,” Bird said. “He has a lot of experience from the past five years as a GM and he’s ready to step into a leading role. With us, he has had his own ideas on the draft, players, and now he gets an opportunity to push his basketball abilities to the forefront. His role will be no different than mine was. He will make all final decision

Larry Bird officially stepped down on Monday as the Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations, a title he has held since 2003. “I felt it was time to step away in a full-time capacity,” Bird said. “This has nothing to do with my health or our team. I’m 60 years old and I want to do other things away from basketball. I will do some scouting for the Pacers, NBA, college, international, do some appearances and stay in a capacity to advise senior basketball management. I love the Pacers, I grew up with the Pacers and admired them from a very young age. I want to thank the fans for their support throughout my career. I also want to thank (owner) Herb Simon for the many years of loyalty and for allowing me to stay with the team in a different role.” Added team owner Herb Simon: “This is not a shock to me as Larry has always been up front about someday stepping down. I thank him for all that he has done and am very pleased he is remaining with the Pacers in a different capacity.” Kevin Pritchard, who Bird hired int

As many may have been looking ahead to the weekend or talking about the first night of the 2017 NFL Draft, news broke at 12:29 pm ET that Larry Bird had decided to step away from his duties as the Pacers President of Basketball Operations. General Manager Kevin Pritchard, who first joined the franchise in 2011, will now take on those responsibilities, a league source confirmed to VigilantSports.com. In what became an emergency podcast, I shared my thoughts on what went down and how it might impact the organization. Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes. I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email. Topics Discussed: * Why Larry Bird’s decision wasn’t surprising. * Had Bird’s voice become stale? * Pacers plan of succession. * Kevin Pritchard rising through the ranks.

Four days after the Pacers’ season came to an end, Sunday afternoon in a Game 4 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, head coach Nate McMillan spoke with reporters about his first season has head coach here. McMillan answered questions for 25 minutes, with questions ranging from team identity, leadership, and what went wrong during the 2016-17, to their needs going into next year and what exactly individual players must work on. Just before the press conference began, Tamika Catchings, the newest member of the front office at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, entered. She observed from the back of the room. Scroll down to the bottom to listen to the entire press conference. Key points and quotes from the press conference are below: * Like the players, McMillan sat down with Larry Bird to discuss his first year as Pacers head coach. “Just talked about the season and a little bit about what we would like to do this offseason. It was a good conversation.” * Capsule of the season: Need to be more consistent, tougher

So much for retirement, right? For Tamika Catchings, she only has one speed: GO! Since playing in the final game of her professional basketball career, the four-time Olympian has kept a full plate. Did you expect anything different? She has traveled with her husband, Parnell. She served as a game analyst for women’s college basketball on the SEC Network. She took over as the owner of her favorite tea shop, Tea’s Me Indy Cafe. And this month, she stayed on with Pacers Sports & Entertainment in an official capacity … on top of running her foundation, Catch the Stars. Catchings is the newest member of the front office down at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Her official title is the “Director of Player Programs and Franchise Development.” Which will fit nicely on a business card. This role includes, but is not limited to: * aid with structure and implementation of player development programs, player relations and community outreach * help teams build chemistry and continuity among players * assist each franchise i

The Pacers trail the Cleveland 3-0 in their best-of-seven first-round series, but it’s been close. C.J. Miles potential game-winning jumper just missed as time expired in Game 1; Game 2 was decided by six points; and in Game 3, the Pacers led by 25 points at intermission — and loss. It was the greatest halftime deficit overcome in a win by the Cavaliers, 119-114. Three Pacers losses to the LeBron James-led Cavaliers by a total of 12 points. Jason Smeathers, a basketball trainer with Rob Blackwell over at St. Vincent Sports Performance, joins me on the podcast to breakdown the series. Like me, he was at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Game 3. Smeathers is a local product, a graduate from Center Grove High School. He then went on to play one year IUPUI — with George Hill providing the assist on obtaining a scholarship — and he finished his career at IPFW. He then played two years overseas, one year in Australia and the other in Canada. Now, he’s a keen observer of the NBA product — watching games nearly every night

“My love for this city and this organization has not wavered.” That’s Jermaine O’Neal, the former Pacer who was back in Indianapolis Sunday to be part of the Indiana Pacers’ celebration of the 2000s decades. O’Neal played for seven teams, but he was at his best in Indianapolis where he finished third in the NBA MVP voting in 2004 in a season he led the team to the conference finals, and he was a six-time NBA All-Star. “I got a chance to establish myself in a way that I can go anywhere in the country and outside of the country, and be recognized because of the base that the Indiana Pacers family extended to me. Because of the support that this city and this state gave me, that type of stuff, man, you just never forget.” In franchise history, he ranks fifth in points (9,580), sixth in rebounds (4,933), and first in blocks (1,245). O’Neal, who’s just 38, is now a businessman in Dallas, Texas and he has two kids. View this post on Instagram I just want to say a "BIG THANK YOU" to the @pacers fo

After four seasons with the Pacers, center Ian Mahinmi moved on to the Washington Wizards last July. He signed a four-year, $64 million deal that pays him $16 million annually. As the Pacers rebuilt their roster and Mahinmi, among others, went elsewhere, it’s been really special to see those guys (and their significant other) remain close. Recently, George Hill’s fiancé, Sam, C.J. Miles’ wife, Lauren, and more met in D.C. to celebrate the birthday of Alexis — Ian’s wife. “Basketball is our job. We do what we love, but it’s also a business,” Mahinmi said. “When you spend time with teammates and people like that, I think you become a family and it becomes a brotherhood where it goes way beyond whatever you do on the court. Me and George [Hill] are like real brothers.” In past years, Mahinmi and Hill would train together in Texas and they remain close friends today. In fact, Mahinmi’s teenage brother, Jason, lives with the Hill’s in Utah. “It goes way beyond being teammates. It’s really family matters.” [Mahinmi

Solomon Hill was always a likable guy, going back from his first conference call after being taken at 23rd by the Pacers in the 2013 NBA Draft. He played three years with the team, and then left in free agency after the team elected to decline their fourth-year team option on his rookie deal after sub-par play. In July, 2016, he signed with New Orleans for $48 million over four years. As the league’s television rights deal went up, salaries skyrocketed and Hill took advantage. Before his first visit back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hill had already played the Pacers twice — once in the preseason and again in New Orleans. And while he was glad to return to Indy, it evoked a lot of emotions, too. Good emotions. “It was definitely different,” he said after the Pelicans fell to the Pacers by three. “I’m kind of just glad to not be coming back here again [this year]. A lot of emotions. I have some brothers, some guys I talk to almost on a daily basis over there.” Here that and more in this episode. See Also: Why S

Eddie White has traveled across the world and worked for multiple professional sports teams. He’s currently the Director of Corporate Communications for the Indiana Pacers, and the host of Pacers Overtime on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis. White was part of the team’s traveling party to London as the franchise played in its first regular-season game outside of the United States on Jan. 12. They faced the Denver Nuggets across the pond and inside The O2 Arena, which opened in 2007 and holds 20,000. NBA fans in attendance saw the Pacers play terribly, losing 140-112. “What happened in London stays in London,” C.J. Miles said afterwards. LISTEN: Podcast with Aaron Eamer, a Pacers fan in London On this podcast, we don’t talk about the game. Instead, we talked about everything that led up to the game, like dinner at Kensington Palace, various transportation options in London, and being accompanied by sponsors on the trip. Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes. I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness o

Katie Douglas is a homegrown talent, playing basketball at all levels right here in her home state of Indiana. First at Perry Meridian High School. Then she won a National Championship at Purdue (1999), and a WNBA Championship (2012) with the Indiana Fever. She retired from the WNBA in 2014, playing for three teams over 14 seasons. Her body had had enough. She has since found a new passion as a business owner. And that’s not surprising. Both of her parents were entrepreneurs and business owners, and her business is also a business owner. Douglas is a franchisee of Orangetheory Fitness, a fresh take on fitness that focuses on heart rate training in each one-hour session. And for her, it’s 16 months in the making. “Orangetheory Fitness is a one-hour total body workout,” Douglas explains. “We are heart rate interval-based training. We’re for all fitness levels so you can come in whether you are a professional athlete down to someone that’s never worked out.” The goal is to be in the orange zone for 12 to 20 minu