Nate McMillan's wife was growing suspicious. Where could he possibly be going so early in the morning? The SuperSonics' practice didn't begin until 11, and he was leaving home nearly three hours ahead of that.
"Where'd you go?" she asked one day after he returned home.
McMillan had indeed gone to practice. But he had gone on his own terms, which is to say he got there well ahead of the required arrival time. He upheld that personal standard during his 12-year playing career with Seattle and he upholds it now as the Pacers' coach - not just for himself, but for the players and other members of his basketball staff.