The Charlotte Hornets were on the market for a new coach this offseason. His previous coach, James Borrego, was fired after losing the play-in tournament two years in a row. They set their sights on Kenny Atkinson, a former Brooklyn Nets coach and then Golden State assistant.
Atkinson and the Hornets originally agreed to a four-year deal in June. However, Atkinson decided to stay with Golden State. The Hornets then re-signed Steve Clifford, who coached the Hornets from 2013 to 2018. With the Warriors traveling to Charlotte on Saturday, Atkinson’s decision has come back to the fore.
“We are very good here. Very good,” Atkinson told Warriors writer Monte Poole. “That was really the overwhelming factor. Living where we live, kids in a great school district. It’s pretty ideal.
Kenny Atkinson served as an assistant for New York and Atlanta before being hired as Brooklyn’s head coach in 2016. During his time with the Nets, Atkinson earned a reputation for building a great culture, leading the Nets to 20 wins in his first year to 42 in 2019. The Nets were able to lure both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the 2019 offseason, but Atkinson didn’t get to see the duo on the floor before he was fired in 2020.
Atkinson remains a highly respected coach in the NBA community. And he has had other interview opportunities outside of the Hornets’ offer. But for now, he’s deciding to stick with Golden State’s championship-caliber staff.
The 3-2 Warriors will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday to take on the 2-2 Hornets.