Nets hire Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson as head coach
The Brooklyn Nets announced Sunday the hiring of Atlanta Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach.
Terms haven't been disclosed, but Atkinson reportedly agreed to a multi-year deal to become the 21st head coach in franchise history, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.
"We are thrilled to announce Kenny Atkinson as our new head coach and to welcome him and his family to Brooklyn," general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. "Kenny's years of NBA coaching experience working under successful head coaches such as Mike Budenholzer and Mike D'Antoni have provided him with the foundation and experience we were looking for in a head coach. We believe that Kenny's core principles, leadership, communication skills, and exceptional background in player development make him an ideal fit for the culture we are building in Brooklyn."
Atkinson will remain with the Hawks throughout their postseason run.
Tony Brown served as the Nets' interim head coach following the dismissal of Lionel Hollins in January.
Marks reportedly met with several candidates over the past few weeks, with Atkinson always being one of his primary targets.
Atkinson has been with the Hawks for four seasons, with the team going as far as the Eastern Conference Finals after a 60-win 2014-15 campaign. His resume also includes a four-year run with the New York Knicks (2008-2012), and a year as director of player development for the Houston Rockets in 2007-08.
During the peak of Linsanity in 2012, Jeremy Lin could not say enough about how much Kenny Atkinson (then w/Knicks) helped him.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) April 17, 2016
"I am truly honored and humbled to be named the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and I would like to thank Nets’ ownership and management for this tremendous opportunity," Atkinson said. "Together with Sean and his staff, we look forward to building a winning tradition here in Brooklyn. I also want to acknowledge and thank Mike Budenholzer and the entire Atlanta Hawks organization for their cooperation and support throughout this process. While I am eager to begin working with the Nets, I remain committed to my coaching responsibilities with the Hawks for the remainder of the postseason."
The Nets finished the 2015-16 season with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 21-61.