When Kenny Atkinson was announced as the Brooklyn Nets’ newest head coach, there was speculation. The uncertainty surrounding rookie head coaches is nothing new, but fans’ skepticism should shift toward optimism when it sinks in that Atkinson is an offspring of the Gregg Popovich coaching tree.
Over the last three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Atkinson was an assistant to Mike Budenholzer. Not only did Budenholzer win a Coach of the Year award two years ago after Atlanta went 60-22, but he spent precious time as an assistant to Popovich from 1996-2013. Budenholzer has been to the promise land with San Antonio, and the principles he brought to the Hawks will show through Atkinson’s tenure with Brooklyn.