The Lakers have been granted permission to interview Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson for their head coaching job, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Atkinson also interviewed for the coaching vacancy in Charlotte and was mentioned as a possibility in Sacramento. He joined Steve Kerr‘s staff prior to the start of the season after spending last year as an assistant with the Clippers, and has served as an assistant with the Knicks and Hawks as well.
Atkinson’s only previous head coaching experience came with the Nets from 2016-20. He posted a 118-190 record in Brooklyn, but helped to turn around a floundering franchise by developing young players. He resigned in March of 2020, reportedly amid dissatisfaction from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The Lakers have already interviewed ABC/ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson, former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin since Frank Vogel was fired in April. A recent report suggested they may be waiting to see if Sixers coach Doc Rivers or Jazz coach Quin Snyder becomes available.
The Warriors are already set to lose one member of their coaching staff when Mike Brown takes over the Kings after Golden State’s playoff run ends.
I wouldn’t mind Kenny . His record don’t show everything . Nets were a mess while he was there . He deserve another chance
What is it going to take for Darvin Ham to get a head coaching gig? Seems like he’s been in the mix for at least a dozen jobs over the last few years. Mark Jackson should get strong consideration too. After all, he was the one who taught the Warriors how to play defense back when they were first breaking into the league.
You’re right about Mark Jackson but he burned too many bridges. Can’t do that in business and you can’t do that in the NBA. The death wish.
Kenny turned the whole Nets franchise around. Kyrie Irving got him fired because he didn’t want someone to boss them around. Atkinson wouldn’t of put up with the sh*t hes been pulling the past 2 seasons. I also think it was disrespectful how he got fired right before the playoffs 3 years ago
I went to a Nets game with Atkinson as coach… the players did not respect this man at all. During timeouts he would stay about 20 feet from the team talking to his coaches, not one player.. the players would just roam around doing whatever they wanted.. and the Heat crushed them by 20-30 that night. That being said.. he’s perfect for the Lakers lol
Atkinson means rebuilding in LA. Or, they are just trying to undermine Warriors title campaign distracting 2 leading assistant coaches.
Boy oh boy… LAL must be running out of candidates, the list of names just keeps getting worse & worse!
Why does ‘mute’ not work for me on this app?
Maybe just on the website? I feel you brother.
Doc Rivers? Can’t advance in playoffs.. not good enough for them but good enough for Lakers? Not getting the feel good vibes
I guess as with the Celtics in 07, the thought would be that Doc would do just enough to get the Lakers in position for the talent to win. That’s provided LeBron and Anthony Davis and the others are healthy and ready to go when the opportunity is there.
Maybe Kenny McCormick should get an interview too.
Might be hard to pry him from the sarcastaball league