Kenny Atkinson will not coach Hornets, opts to stay with Golden State, sources say
The Charlotte Hornets’ coaching search isn’t wrapped up after all.
In a stunning move, Golden State assistant coach Kenny Atkinson has decided not to take the Hornets’ head coaching job, league sources confirmed to The Charlotte Observer on Saturday. Atkinson backed out for family reasons, sources told The Observer.
Although Atkinson hadn’t officially signed his contract yet, the expectation was for him to do so within days leading up to him arriving in town next week, sources told The Observer. The decision caught the Hornets off guard. They were in the process of assembling a coaching staff and the remaining assistants leftover from the staff of former coach James Borrego were awaiting for Atkinson to touch down in Charlotte to speak with him about their futures, sources told The Observer.
The Hornets struck an agreement in principle with Atkinson last week and he had a contract in hand. Now, with him turning the job down and opting to remain in the Bay Area, the Hornets could very well be without a coach leading into Thursday’s NBA draft.
Mike D’Antoni was among the finalists alongside Atkinson, getting to the last round of interviews with owner Michael Jordan, and may be the person the Hornets turn to next. Atkinson beat out several candidates for the job, including former Portland coach Terry Stotts, Dallas assistant Sean Sweeney and Milwaukee assistant Charles Lee.
Someone who wasn’t among those names and now is available: Quin Snyder. The Hornets could look to interview the former Utah coach who resigned earlier this month after eight seasons with the Jazz.
This story was originally published June 18, 2022 at 4:02 PM.
