Another Warriors assistant is reportedly in the running for an NBA head coaching position in the same division.
Kenny Atkinson, who joined Steve Kerr’s bench this season, has been granted permission by the Warriors to interview for the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach opening, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
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Atkinson has already interviewed for the Charlotte Hornets’ opening. If he lands the Lakers job, Atkinson would inherit a team with several likely future Hall of Fame players who underperformed this season.
The 54-year-old coached the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020. He spent last season as an assistant coach under Tyronn Lue before moving up to the Bay Area this season.
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If Atkinson leaves for another job, Kerr would have to replace at least two assistants for the 2022-23 season. Associate head coach Mike Brown was named the next head coach of the Kings this week, though he will remain with the Warriors through the playoffs and is currently taking the place of Kerr as the Warriors' leader while he recovers from COVID-19.
Golden State Warriors
However, Kerr isn’t unfamiliar with having to replace assistants who have left to coach other teams like Luke Walton and Alvin Gentry, as teams look to take a page from the Warriors’ success.