Nets reportedly to extend coach Kenny Atkinson, rest of staff

Atkinson, Nets nearing playoff berth

4/2/2019, 4:07 AM
Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson instructs in a huddle against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. / Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports
Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson instructs in a huddle against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. / Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

The Nets reportedly expect to sign head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff to contract extensions, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Nets, who currently hold the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, are nearing their first playoff berth for the first time since 2015, in large part due to Atkinson.

In three years with Atkinson, Brooklyn's win total has gone up each season. It won 20 games in 2016-17, 28 last year and already has 39 wins this year.

Atkinson inherited a depleted Nets team that didn't hold most of its draft picks stemming from its 2013 blockbuster trade with the Celtics. But with him and GM Sean Marks, they have begun to turn things around.

Brooklyn has a young core that features Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen, Allen Crabbe and D'Angelo Russell, who leads the team with 20.9 points per game in his final year before he can become a free agent.

The Nets also own their own first-round pick and Denver's first-rounder this year, as well as two second-rounders.

 

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