Hornets reportedly considering D’Antoni, Stotts and Atkinson for head coaching vacancy

Charlotte Hornets remains without head coach after parting ways with James Borrego last April. The Hornets had Darvin Ham in their list, but, the Lakers were the team to secure the former Bucks’ assistant.

As a result, the Charlotte front office is among three candidates, all with previous head coaching experience. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, Mike D’Antoni, Terry Stotts and Kenny Atkinson are reportedly the “known names still in consideration”. (h/t Bleacher Report).

D’Antoni, 71, has a 672-527 record as an NBA head coach in stints with the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. He most recently served as a consultant for the Pelicans.

Stotts, 64, served as the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coach between the 2012-13 and 2020-21 seasons. He had a 402-318 in that time leading the team to eight straight playoff berths.

Atkinson, 54, served as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets between the 2016-17 and 2019-20 seasons, going 118-190 in that time with one playoff berth. Atkinson has also being part of the Clippers and the Warriors coaching staff the last two seasons.

After failing to make the postseason for the sixth consecutive season, the Hornets part ways with James Borrego despite leading the team to the best record since 2016. This was the first winning record in six years for the Hornets, who reached the play-in in two consecutive seasons.

The Hornets have made promising strides around a young core of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, among others. They hope to find a coach to push them further forward and make the postseason after finishing with a 43-39 record this past year.

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