The Charlotte Hornets seem to have narrowed down their search for their head coaching vacancy. According to Shams Charania and Sam Amick, Kenny Atkinson, who is currently with the Warriors in the NBA Finals, is the front-runner for the job.
Two-time Coach of the Year Mike D’Antoni and former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts are among the other finalists in the Hornets’ coaching search that started in late April when the team move on from James Borrego.
Atkinson will meet with team officials and governor Michael Jordan next week, according to the report. If Atkinson gets hired, he will become the second Warriors’ assistant to take over a team this summer after Mike Brown who was named the Kings’ head coach.
The Hornets are hoping to hire a coach who will help the organization take the next step after reaching the play-in tournament two consecutive seasons. Charlotte fell short in the tournament and could not make a return to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season.
Atkinson spent nearly four seasons as head coach of the Nets from 2016-20, making one postseason appearance and preparing the ground for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who joined the Nets in 2019.
Prior to making a decision on the head coaching position, Charlotte signed President of Basketball Operations Mitch Kupchak to a two-year extension. The Hornets hope to take the next step in the coming season after building a fine-tuned roster around young star LaMelo Ball.
Charlotte finished the past year with a 43-39 record that signaled the first winning season in many years.
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