Kenny Atkinson Articles - Page 8

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is a smart guy. He knows all the outside pressure from the media and fans is going to be on All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving this season since two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant likely won’t play. Sensing that a lot has been placed on Irving’s shoulders from an outside […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Taurean Prince signed a contract extension with the Atlantic Division club this week, inking a two-year, $29 million deal. Now, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is reacting to the contract news, calling the “early call” on the 25-year-old a “commitment” on Brooklyn’s part. “That’s an early call. On his part too, right? […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson has once again reiterated Brooklyn isn’t expecting superstar small forward Kevin Durant to play this season. Durant is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Game 5 of the 2019 Finals. Kenny Atkinson on @JoeandEvan discussing if Kevin Durant will play at all this season: “As of […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson believes that the center spot is their ‘biggest strength’ coming into the 2019-20 season. DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen will likely play back up for one another in the upcoming season. With that said, the Nets have two of the most athletic centers in the league who can play […]

With Kevin Durant out for the entire 2019-20 season, the Brooklyn Nets will look to the duo of Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert to lift the offense. From head coach Kenny Atkinson’s perspective, this newly formed partnership will work. Irving is known as one of the most potent scorers in the league. He gets his […]

There is no doubt that the Brooklyn Nets were one if, if not the top team that was able to significantly improve its contender status over what was a highly successful summer. From the laughing stock of the league a few seasons ago, the acquisitions of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant over the offseason has […]

Rodions Kurucs was one of the pleasant surprises for the Brooklyn Nets’ overachieving 2018-19 season. The Latvian was a mid-second round pick that year but managed to play his way into a starting power forward role, earning him a spot at the Rising Stars Challenge and helping the team to a sixth seed in the […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson will not be present at Tuesday’s press conference, according to a report from Ian Begley of SNYtv. Instead, he’s by the side of Kyrie Irving, who took an inadvertent elbow during a pick-up game. Nets PG Kyrie Irving was hit with an inadvertent elbow in a pick up game […]

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving didn’t take discounts from the max-level salaries they deserve for DeAndre Jordan to sit on the bench. Just because the Brooklyn Nets’ new superstars facilitated Jordan signing with their team in free agency, though, doesn’t mean he’s entitled to a starting spot. In fact, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson seemed to […]

Joe Harris of the Brooklyn Nets believes that head coach Kenny Atkinson saw tidbits of vaunted NBA shooter Kyle Korver in him. Per Anthony Puccio of SB Nation, Joe Harris recalled his journey to the NBA. Harris, the 33rd overall pick in 2014, believes that he was lucky when he joined the Nets in 2016 […]

The NBA world was shocked when Kevin Durant announced he would be leaving the Golden State Warriors and heading to the other side of the country to join the Brooklyn Nets. Nets fans celebrated, but at first, even head coach Kenny Atkinson couldn’t join them. Atkinson explained to Jackie MacMullan of ESPN that he didn’t […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ rebuilding phase is over. Once Kevin Durant is healthy, they will be ready to contend for the title for years to come thanks to this summer’s acquisitions of Durant and Kyrie Irving. Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson understands the pressure in front of him. Not only is he expected to lead the […]

The significant increase in player movement that has impacted the league in the past few years has been met by mixed reactions from people both within and outside the NBA. Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson appears to have seen the positive side of how players currently possess so much power in terms of their control […]

The Brooklyn Nets managed to make a splash in free agency with the signing of forward Kevin Durant. Of course, they know full well it is going to take some time for him to work his way back from injury before making his debut in the 2019-20 NBA season. Regardless, they are still looking forward […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson has heard all the noise surrounding Kyrie Irving, who was reportedly not a good leader on the Boston Celtics this past season and rubbed teammates the wrong way. Atkinson, however, isn’t going to “prejudge” Irving. The Nets coach wants to get to know Irving himself, bring out the best […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson believes DeAndre Jordan will be motivated once again now that the high-flyer is on a playoff team. This past season with the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks, there were times where Jordan didn’t give maximum effort on defense. Atkinson wants Jordan to get back to his All-Star level […]

Conventional wisdom said Joel Embiid wouldn’t play in Game 4 of the Philadelphia 76ers’ first-round series with the Brooklyn Nets. Not only did Philadelphia hold a 2-1 lead after winning two straight following Brooklyn’s stunning series-opening victory, but Embiid was also listed as doubtful on Friday after watching Game 3 in street clothes. Unfortunately for […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is asking his team to strike a difficult balance for Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Atkinson wants the Nets to exert more physicality. However, they should not compromise their identity in the process. Kenny Atkinson on being mindful of playing with more physicality, […]

The Brooklyn Nets hired head coach Kenny Atkinson three years ago today. The Nets won 20 games in Atkinson’s first year as coach and 28 the following season. Pretty much everyone who covers the league expected the Nets’ rebuild to be a slow process. And yet here the Nets are in 2019 in the playoffs. […]

Lou Williams is a peculiar player, as the sharpshooting guard currently leads the Los Angeles Clippers in scoring while somehow coming off the bench. In 2013, however, Williams thought his career was over, until a friend and future head coach helped him. Speaking to The New York Times’ Scott Cacciola for a feature story, Williams […]

The Brooklyn Nets were encouraged by Caris LeVert’s emergence as more than a role player for the organization, but that hope was quickly deflated by an early-season foot injury that could have sidelined him for the rest of the season. At first, the gruesome nature of his injury brought back memories of Gordon Hayward’s nasty […]

The Brooklyn Nets jumped out to a surprising 1-0 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. Shooting guard Caris LeVert played a key role in the weekend victory, leading Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson to heap serious praise on the up-and-comer. “He’s kind of an X-factor. He can change the game […]

The Brooklyn Nets stunned the Philadelphia 76ers with an impressive 111-102 road win to snatch away home court advantage in their series opener. In the post-game press conference, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson said that he loved the way his guys responded to the raucous Philly crowd and the star power that the Sixers possessed. […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson will be coaching in his first playoff series, so he asked help from San Antonio Spurs mastermind Gregg Popovich. Well, sort of. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Atkinson admitted that he had to resort to google to get an idea how to prepare for […]

This was supposed to be another year of the rebuild season for the Brooklyn Nets. After missing the playoffs three years in a row, the 2018-19 season was supposed to be more of the same. Instead, the Brooklyn Nets hold the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and will take on the Philadelphia 76ers in […]

To say that Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is a fan of his All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell would probably be an understatement. Recently, coach Atkinson sung the praises of his 22-year-old guard, stating that in his mind, Russell is a “winner.” “It’s another star on his résumé,” he said, via Brian Lewis of […]

The Brooklyn Nets have clinched a playoff spot for the first time since the 2014-15 NBA season, ending the agony of their fans who suffered from years of disappointments after engaging in bad trades and questionable roster moves. Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson reacted to finally clinching a postseason spot. Atkinson said that it feels […]

The Brooklyn Nets emerged victorious on Saturday night in their matchup against the league-best Milwaukee Bucks. Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson had nothing but good things to say about opposing coach Mike Budenholzer, who he happens to have worked with for three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. Speaking to Michael Scotto of The Athletic, Atksinson […]

The Brooklyn Nets pulled off an upset, beating the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks 133-128, to improve to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. After the game, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson had high praises for Jared Dudley, calling the veteran forward the ‘X-Factor’ in their much-needed win. 🎥 Coach on @JaredDudley619: “The X-factor” pic.twitter.com/CbG3ZdjTR1 […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie says the reason the players on the team really gravitate and love playing for head coach Kenny Atkinson is because he understands what they are going through. Atkinson played point guard in Europe, so he can relate to the Nets players very well. “I think what differentiates Kenny from different […]

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly giving general manager Sean Marks a contract extension, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post. The Nets are also on the verge of agreeing to extensions for head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff: The Nets have locked up general manager Sean Marks with a contract extension, multiple sources […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard D’Angelo Russell says the team’s future is “in good hands” after the franchise extended the contract of head coach Kenny Atkinson. Barring a collapse over the final four games, the Nets are on their way to making the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Atkinson and Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard D’Angelo Russell says the contract extensions head coach Kenny Atkinson and his assistant coaches reportedly got are “well-deserved.” Atkinson had led the Nets to 39 wins entering Tuesday. Brooklyn is on its way to making the playoffs for the first time since 2015: D'Angelo Russell shared his thoughts on ESPN's report of […]

Reports surfaced Monday evening that the Brooklyn Nets were giving contract extensions to head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff. When Atkinson met with local reporters on Tuesday, the 51-year-old declined to comment on the report and said he wants to keep the focus on his team with the end of the regular season approaching: Brooklyn Nets […]

Despite their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson singled out Caris LeVert for his stellar performance. Per Anthony Puccio of SB Nation, Atkinson tagged LeVert’s performance on Monday as his ‘best game.’ “It was his best game. From a confidence level and a physical level, that was the Caris from […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson and his assistants are on the verge of finalizing contract extensions, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Details of the contract are yet to be released to the public, but it is believed that Atkinson and his staff will sign their extensions with the franchise anytime soon. With Atkinson calling […]

According to Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, the NBA Coach of the Year Award ought to belong to Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Atkinson — Budenholzer’s former assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks — commended Budenholzer for the impressive job the Bucks coach has […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson has his team in prime position to make the playoffs and surprise everyone. However, Atkinson — who very well may be the Coach of the Year this season — recently made a point to compliment Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. Atkinson and Budenholzer go back to their days in Atlanta, with the […]

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer would love to see Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson win the 2019 Coach of the Year award. Many believe Budenholzer should win the award since he’s guided the Bucks to the best record in the NBA in his first year in Milwaukee. However, the Bucks’ coach believes the job Atkinson has done […]