In the U.S., trying to figure out what led Brooklyn to a "mutual breakup" from a prized Kenny Atkinson before the playoffs: "lost the locker room; Players wanted him fired "and who's likely to replace him? Tyrone Lou on behalf of Kerry or Mark Jackson of Camp Durant
Atkinson. Resigned or dismissed?
Photo:
IP
"Mutual farewell," that's how Brooklyn's coach left Kenny Atkinson's surprising departure after three and a half years at the club. But the US is wondering why a team decides to take a serious shock after two impressive wins (over Boston and San Antonio), with 7th in the playoffs and only 20 games left for the season.
General Manager Sean Marx, who is considered a close friend of Atkinson, tried to explain why they decided on the same mutual separation. "We found ourselves in a situation where we asked 'what can take us to the next level?' And from all the discussions we did, it became clear that the team needed a different voice in the locker room, and now it will be our job to find the right man for that role. "
"Some players wanted him fired," a Brooklyn source quoted in the US media, and at SNY, Jan Bagley reported that "some players felt that Atkinson had recently lost the locker room, which is a natural thing for a group that is having trouble" and even added that "you won't find a bigger Mark fan. Jackson confirms Rich Kleiman, Kevin Durant's business partner / manager. "
Curry and Durant. The immediate suspects // Photo: AFP
Meanwhile, who will coach the team until the end of the season will be Jacques Vaughn, Atkinson's assistant, and who is considered "closer" to Kyrie Irving. The United States also reports that the injured coordinator prefers to see Tyrone Lo on the lines next season, but as Kevin Durant said, as Marc Jackson may have demanded.
Either way, Atkinson's dismissal seems to remain a mystery. It is unclear whether the two non-playing stars - Durant and Curry - actually demanded his dismissal, and if so why now? Or maybe the coach himself preferred to leave before having to deal with them on the hardwood together.
Zach Low in his ESPN podcast suggested that what created the mess in the Brooklyn locker room was the (justified) change in the opening quintet - Jarrett Allen in place of Diandra Jordan. The veteran chin came in the summer with the intention of creating a formidable trio along with Durant and Curry, but of course that would only happen next season and without Atkinson on the lines.
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"The only thing he has certainly done in his last two years is that he did well above expectations. I don't know what else he could have done to stay in office," said Houston colleague Mike D'Antoni. And not only is he disappointed, there are quite a few reports that Bennets also has players who didn't like the news of their coach's dismissal in recent years. Not to mention it's been Spencer Dinwiddy and Chris LaVert, among others, who have improved wonders over the past two years under Atkinson.