Dan Burke is in his 29th season in professional basketball, and his 21st with the Pacers. He has been a loyal assistant on the staffs of five head coaches. He's never been a head coach for a game, other than in NBA Summer League competition.
That changes Friday, when Burke slides over a spot on the bench to sub for Nate McMillan in the Pacers' game at Charlotte. McMillan, who also missed Thursday's practice, is absent for personal reasons, but will return for Saturday's game against Philadelphia.
A head coach missing a game has rarely happened in the Pacers' recent history, although it seems to happen this time of year when it does.