Charlotte Still Looking For A Head Coach After Being Spurned

By Jordan Long

The Charlotte Hornets coaching search is still ongoing.  It was believed Kenny Atkinson was going to take the job, even agreeing to a 4-year deal.  Well,  Atkinson decided to stay with Golden State as an assistant.  Now the Hornets will look for a new coach to take over.

                The pick for Atkinson to be the Head Coach was perplexing from the start.  Sure, he had been a Head Coach in the league before, but his teams didn’t perform well.  Atkinson spent 2016 to 2020 as Head Coach for the Brooklyn Nets.  It didn’t go well with an overall record of 118-190.  His team earned a playoff spot once, 2019, and they lost in the first-round.  Atkinson was let go 62 games into 2020.  Of course, that season ended in the bubble.  At the time, Brooklyn was 28-34.

                Atkinson was successful as an NBA assistant on Steve Kerr’s staff this past season.  Golden State won the NBA Championship this season, beating the Boston Celtics in 6 games.  Why would he want to leave?  Golden State has a chance to repeat next year with their core players of Steph Curry,  Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and  Jordan Poole.  Why wouldn’t you want to be part of that?  It’s an opportunity for Atkinson to win another ring as an assistant coach.

                 The Hornets are still an attractive landing spot for a Head Coach.  They have some talent with Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and LaMelo Ball.  Charlotte needs a coach to help them be even better and improve on their 43-49 record.

                Before Atkinson, Mike D’Antoni was thought of as the favorite to land the job.  They could take a chance with D’Antoni but another coach who might make more sense is Frank Vogel.

                  Vogel is 48 years old.  Mike D’Antoni is 71.  That is a difference of 23 years.  Vogel may be able to relate to the players and give better advice than D’Antoni 

                Vogel has a Head Coaching record in the NBA of 431-389, a winning percentage of .526.  His teams went to the postseason 7 times.  He won the NBA championship as Head Coach of the L.A. Lakers in 2020.  It was in the bubble setting, but he still won it.           

                The Hornets are back to the drawing board.  They know they have two great candidates out there with D’Antoni and Vogel.  Charlotte may end up talking to others.  In the end, they need to find a coach who will not only agree to be their coach but will stick around. Atkinson spurned them and who knows how many more chances Atkinson will have to be an NBA Head Coach.