Just more than a week ago, the Charlotte Hornets had found their newest guy to lead the team, following James Borrego’s tenure as the young roster’s head coach. But it appears as though that’s no longer the case.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported to the world on Saturday, via Twitter, that Kenny Atkinson, who’d previously agreed to become Charlotte’s next head coach, will remain an assistant with the Golden State Warriors for the 2022-23 season.
Atkinson’s last head coaching job was with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2019-20 NBA season before the team fired him in the midst of a disappointing season. Of course, Atkinson had success with the Nets the prior season, helping develop and lead players like D’Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie to the 2018-19 playoffs.
ESPN Sources: Kenny Atkinson has decided he won’t become the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach and will remain with Golden State as top assistant. After being offered job during the NBA Finals, further conversations led Atkinson to believe it would be best to remain with Warriors.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2022
The Hornets were likely banking on that development and experience with a younger core to help lead LaMelo Ball and co. to the next level. Instead, they’ll re-open their search for their next guy. Will it be Mike D’Antoni? Terry Stotts?
Whoever it is, they’ll have a chance to try and lead the Hornets to their first-ever NBA championship. They have +100000 championship odds at Tipico Sportsbook ahead of the 2022-23 season.