Kenny Atkinson has backed out of his commitment to become the next head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and decided to stay as an assistant in Golden State with the Warriors, per a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Atkinson, 55, reportedly told Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan that he would sign a four-year deal with the organization after the NBA Finals.
Obviously, things changed.
Woj reports that Atkinson ultimately decided it would be in his best “personal and professional” interest to stay with the Warriors.
The Hornets were previously rumored to be interested in longtime Portland Trail Blazers’ head coach Terry Stotts and 2x NBA Coach of the Year Mike D’Antoni.
Hornets’ President of Basketball Operations Mitch Kupchak will certainly have his hands full trying to find a head coach less than a month away from the Summer League.