Name: Kenny Atkinson
Age: 53
Experience: 4 years head coach in Brooklyn, 4 years as assistant coach in New York, 3 years as assistant coach in Atlanta
Coaching record: 118-190 in regular season, 1-4 in playoffs
Overview
Kenny Atkinson was given as rough a draw as any coach in Brooklyn last season. After guiding the Nets masterfully through a long rebuild, Atkinson was given half a season largely without his two star players before they forced him out.
Atkinson has established himself as one of the most developmental coaches in the league and has helped many prospects become strong contributors or All-Stars. For that reason alone, he’d make sense in New Orleans if they’re interested in a young, player-friendly coach to further develop their core.
Coaching style
Atkinson’s greatest strength, as mentioned, is his development of players, specifically guards. Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris Levert, Joe Harris and D’Angelo Russell all were molded in some way by Atkinson and developed into varying levels of standout players.
He has a very hands-on approach, even taking part in practices at times while in Brooklyn. Paired with his willingness to spread minutes around, a bonus for a Pelicans team loaded with young talent, and those should be positives.
His motion offense would be a welcome change to a Pelicans team that had far too little movement offensively at times last season. There’s a myriad of reasons why Atkinson’s hiring would make sense as he overachieved with a team-first approach in Brooklyn as part of a rebuilding franchise.
But would Atkinson be willing to sign up for another rebuild, even if New Orleans is far, far further along than Brooklyn was?
How he’d fit with Lonzo Ball
If Sam Cassell is the perfect coach for Lonzo Ball, Atkinson would be no worse than second, if not a 1B to his 1A. Atkinson rehabilitated one former Lakers point guard that was dealt away and Ball could be a second.
Putting Ball into a motion offense would also help him offensively. His basketball IQ would excel in a motion offense and putting him in constant movement could help him avoid the lulls in play he can be akin to.
