This is part one of a two-part collaboration between Alexander “Bootum” Cohen and Kaelin Phoebe, both of whom really believe in Kenny Atkinson.
The Brooklyn Nets left the Knicks the blueprint to relevancy last summer. After one of the worst trades in NBA history, Brooklyn pulled themselves into playoff contention and positioned themselves to land two superstars in free agency. Much of their craftiness and success was rooted in the hiring of Kenny Atkinson, who took over as head coach in 2016. The Knicks, after chasing star-power and quick-fixes since Patrick Ewing left twenty years ago, are in the market for a leader who can make the franchise relevant again.