The Warriors have reached an agreement to add former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson to Steve Kerr’s coaching staff as one of the lead assistants, sources told The Athletic. It’s the most high-profile change in what has been a summer of reshuffling within the staff.
Atkinson would join Mike Brown at the front of the bench, giving the Warriors two former head coaches as lead assistants. Atkinson spent this past season as a lead assistant to Clippers coach Ty Lue, alongside Chauncey Billups, who was recently hired as the Trail Blazers’ coach, and Dan Craig.
Atkinson has a strong reputation in the coaching community. His name popped up as a candidate for a few of the head-coach openings this summer, though nothing materialized, clearing the way for the Warriors to hire him away from Los Angeles. He fills the front-of-the-bench vacancy left by Jarron Collins, who parted ways with the franchise last month.
As the head coach in Brooklyn from 2016 to 2020, Atkinson played a central role in the team’s rapid rebuild, helping to lure Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Those two clashed with Atkinson in their first season as the Nets transitioned to a superstar-driven phase of their development. He stepped down in March 2020, right before the pandemic.
But Atkinson’s work with those overachieving Nets teams still shines on his résumé. He found ways to generate a competitive record and respectable defensive rating with limited personnel. He also helped developed a bunch of young talent, including Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and even D’Angelo Russell, the former No. 2 pick who had his career breakout under Atkinson.
In addition to Atkinson, the Warriors are also hiring Dejan Milojević and Jama Mahlalela, sources told The Athletic.
Mahlalela has been an important behind-the-scenes part of the Raptors developmental staff for the past decade. Along with Milojević, who specializes in training big men, Mahlalela will play a key role in the Warriors’ revamped developmental plan.
The rest of the Warriors’ staff still includes Ron Adams, Chris DeMarco, Bruce Fraser, Aaron Miles, Leandro Barbosa and Nick Kerr, among others.