Can Atkinson, the former Brooklyn Nets head coach, put the young Charlotte Hornets on the track for the playoffs? Team owner Michael Jordan apparently thinks so.
News of the hiring hit the internet on Friday that Atkinson agreed to a four-year deal to coach the Hornets.
Atkinson, a Long Island native, is recognized as one of the top talent developers in the NBA. He is currently serving as an assistant coach on Steve Kerr’s staff for the Golden State Warriors.
As head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020, Atkinson took over a team with virtually no draft capital or incumbent talent and helped build them into a playoff team.
Under the leadership of Atkinson — Joe Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and DeAngelo Russell all significantly improved.
Brooklyn’s successful rebuild resulted in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving deciding to join the franchise as free agents in 2019.
In three-plus seasons in Brooklyn, Atkinson made the playoffs once, losing in the first round in 2019, before he resigned in 2020.
Per NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, Atkinson met with owner Michael Jordan and other high-level Hornets officials for his third interview on Wednesday.
What does Kenny Atkinson bring to the table for the Charlotte Hornets?
The obvious answer is his ability to develop young talent. Moreover, there’s his defensive acumen.
The Hornets have a rising star on their roster, 20-year old point guard LaMelo Ball.
This past season, Charlotte struggled defensively, allowing 114.9 points per game, which was tied for 25th in the league. Atkinson improved the Nets’ defensive efficiency in every season of his four-year tenure, taking them from 23rd in 2017 to ninth in 2020.
We all know what Ball can do offensively as an exciting playmaker. It remains to be seen, however, if Ball can maximize his skills on the defensive side. Atkinson can help with this.
The Hornets have a roster their front office believes is primed to become a playoff team. With Ball, is another emerging talent Miles Bridges (a restricted free agent) and control of the Nos. 13, 15, and 45 picks in the 2022 NBA draft. That’s much more for Atkinson to start with than he had when accepting the Nets job in 2016.
Why is this the right move for both sides?
Timing has a great deal to do with this move. The Hornets believe they have what it takes to become a playoff team. To double down on that, the voice in the room that matters most, Michael Jordan, believes it’s time for this franchise to take the next step.
Atkinson spent the last two seasons coaching on the staffs of Ty Lue (with the Clippers) and Steve Kerr. He not only has the head coaching experience accrued with Brooklyn, he fine-tuned his skills while also working with two of the top coaches in the game.
How far Atkinson can take the Hornets remains to be seen. However, with a talented young roster, along with a battle-tested general manager in Mitch Kupchak, there’s enough reason to believe Atkinson can get Charlotte beyond the Play-In round.
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