Former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is one of three finalist for the Hornets' head coach position. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson reportedly a front-runner for Hornets HC job

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/3/22

The Charlotte Hornets may be getting closer to finding their next head coach.

Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson has emerged as a front-runner for Charlotte’s head coaching job and will meet again next week with Hornets officials, this time including owner Michael Jordan, sources tell me and @sam_amick.

Story at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/uZlhfZCbG4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 3, 2022

It was reported in early May that the Hornets were beginning their slate of interviews and Atkinson was among the candidates. A couple of weeks later, news came out that the Warriors assistant was one of the finalists for the then-vacant Los Angeles Lakers gig.

Darvin Ham ultimately earned the head coaching job with Los Angeles, but it now appears that Atkinson has a very real shot at becoming the new leader in Charlotte. The 55-year-old was an assistant with the New York Knicks from 2008 to 2012, Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2016 and spent the last two seasons on the bench with Ty Lue's Los Angeles Clippers and Steve Kerr's Warriors respectively.

Atkinson was also the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons from 2016 to 2020 and compiled a 118-190 record in the regular season and 1-4 mark in the postseason.

If Atkinson earns the post with the Hornets, he would be taking over a franchise that hasn't made it to the NBA playoffs in six years. Charlotte also hasn't made it out of the first round of the postseason in 20 years.

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