Kenny Atkinson to join Hawks coaching staff?

cmaff051 · Post #1 » by **cmaff051** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:01 pm

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.1129787

LONDON – Kenny Atkinson, the Knicks highly regarded assistant coach whom Jeremy Lin credited for his meteoric rise last season, is close to a deal to join the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff, the Daily News has learned.

According to a source close to Atkinson, he is leaving the Knicks for a position on Larry Drew’s bench. Atkinson was the Knicks player development coach and sat behind the bench at games.

The Long Island native was the only coach from the Mike D’Antoni regime who wasn’t removed last March after D’Antoni abruptly resigned. Instead of promoting Atkinson, Mike Woodson elected to hire Jim Todd and Darrell Walker to fill the vacancies left by Phil Weber and Dan D’Antoni.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... z22m5IX7rh

SonOfMars · Post #2 » by **SonOfMars** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:04 pm

Someone take Herb Williams please :pray:

MaseInYourFace · Post #3 » by **MaseInYourFace** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:04 pm

Kenny is a good assistant, good player dev guy. I wish him well.

Post #4 » by **Thugger HBC** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:05 pm

Erasing all traces of D'antoni.

Bob Ross · Post #5 » by **Bob Ross** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:08 pm

That sucks I like Atkinson but I guess now that our team vet heavy there is not the need for a player developmental coach the way there had been in past years. Good for him, though.

TinyLinny · Post #6 » by **TinyLinny** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:22 pm

It's a shame. The Knicks have lost a few good coaches over the years. Thibodeau and now Atkinson.

SaveUsKP6 · Post #7 » by **SaveUsKP6** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:24 pm

That's a rough loss. Doesn't matter if we are a vet team. It's always good to have one of the best developmental guys on your staff. In three years when the most we've done is make it to the second round and we're ready to blow it up, we're going to wish we had a guy like this who could develop talent.

Post #8 » by **Thugger HBC** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:38 pm

He wasn't even on the bench, he used to sit behind the coaches.

But most likely he's received an advancement on Drew's staff, as with us we really don't have any players to develop.

Jay10 · Post #9 » by **Jay10** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 2:42 pm

i see larry drew and mike woodson are still going at it. :lol:

Post #10 » by **NoLayupRule** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 3:20 pm

Seems like Atkinson was a really solid S&C coach but this is a great opportunity for him

I'm sorry to lose him but S&C coaches are not exactly irreplaceable

Fury · Post #11 » by **Fury** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 3:30 pm

ahhhhhhhh

Rasho Brezec · Post #12 » by **Rasho Brezec** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 3:55 pm

Should've signed with CAA.

kosmovitelli · Post #13 » by **kosmovitelli** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 4:04 pm

I guess Woodson doesn't care about skill work and shooting ! LOL

Atkinson, 43, joined the Knicks staff on Aug. 6, 2008 and brought a strong background in the international game, player development and scouting to New York. The Long Island native is in his fourth overall NBA season. In 2007-08, he served as Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets.

Atkinson’s NBA career follows an overseas odyssey in which he became a student of the international game. Kenny joined the Rockets in 2007 following three years as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06). He has served as a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 through 2010. He spent the summer of 2006 as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia. In summer 2009, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders trip to Mexico City.

Prior to starting his coaching career in 2004, Atkinson played professionally in Italy, France, Germany and Spain from 1991 to 2004. He had tryouts with several NBA teams, including the Knicks in summer 1991.

“I would say my formation as a coach is more from an international standpoint,” says Kenny. “That’s where I learned to coach, and there’s a big emphasis on skill work and shooting; an up-tempo and open style that’s predicated on good skills.”

Ginger Bean · Post #14 » by **Ginger Bean** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 4:13 pm

MDA and Lin down the memory hole

MaseInYourFace · Post #15 » by **MaseInYourFace** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 4:15 pm

So when did D'antoni coach the Knicks again?

Post #16 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 4:23 pm

Kenny Atkinson will be a welcoming addition to the Atlanta Hawks.

AllanHoustonFan · Post #17 » by **AllanHoustonFan** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 4:29 pm

Damn shame. I always liked Kenny Atkinson. I wish him the best.

CU_NY09 · Post #18 » by **CU_NY09** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 5:23 pm

Sad to see him go, he'll be missed. He'll continue to thrive in ATL.

daba · Post #19 » by **daba** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 8:00 pm

will be curious to see how he does when/if he ever rises to the ranks and becomes a head coach. seems like he's cut from the same cloth as thibodeau, jeff van gundy and d'antoni.

Post #20 » by **GONYK** » Mon Aug 6, 2012 8:03 pm

daba wrote:will be curious to see how he does when/if he ever rises to the ranks and becomes a head coach. seems like he's cut from the same cloth as thibodeau, jeff van gundy and d'antoni.

No, it doesn't seem that way.

Atkinson's specialty is player development.

None of those other coaches you mentioned are known for that.

And D'Antoni was not made from the same cloth as JVG and Thibs.