Kenny Atkinson Reportedly Had Lack of Desire to Coach Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in Brooklyn
By Sam Dunn
When we hear that a team and its coach "mutually agreed to part ways," we tend to read that as a polite euphemism for "the dude got fired." But in the case of the Brooklyn Nets and Kenny Atkinson, the truth is a bit more complicated.
According to a new report from Yahoo's Vincent Goodwill, Atkinson was reportedly a more or less equal partner in this decision, as he wasn't particulary excited to take on coaching a team led by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant next season.
League source tells Yahoo Sports Kenny Atkinson wasn’t keen on coaching KD and Kyrie next season: “Kenny pushed for the parting just as much, if not more than Brooklyn.”
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) March 8, 2020
https://t.co/tvY6mgl1Ic pic.twitter.com/NGZRGi6rdL
"Kenny pushed for the parting just as much, if not more than Brooklyn," a league source told Goodwill.
That's a bit of a curveball.
Sure, Irving has been known to test the togetherness of certain locker rooms due to his occasionally bizarre views and proclamations and questionable leadership ability. We know this. But Kevin Durant is already one of the 30-or-so greatest NBA players of all time, has multiple rings and an MVP award, and will be back next year with a serious vengeance. That Atkinson didn't want to be in charge of a KD-led team is unfortunate to the point of frustration.
Kyrie: “What does government mean to you?”
— S M A R F (@ColeyMick) March 7, 2020
Kenny Atkinson: “Get me the fuck out of here”
It's also had to argue with his decision, as he must have seen writing on the wall.