Kenny Atkinson understands what Jordi Fernandez is facing. Having navigated a challenging rebuild in Brooklyn, he offers some perspective on the current struggles.
Atkinson believes the tough moments will ultimately pay off, even though it may feel like losses keep piling up.
On Sunday, the Nets fought hard but fell short, losing 106-102 to the Cavaliers before a sold-out crowd at Barclays Center.
“There’s no question about it. You’re going to have those moments,” Atkinson noted. “I like to focus on the process, but after the final buzzer, you go home with that loss. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when losses stack up. Everyone tells you not to worry, but if you’re competitive, you can’t help but feel a bit anxious. That’s part of a rebuild, part of being a young coach.”
“You see the growth… Once you break through, it’s incredibly rewarding. I remember our third year when we made the playoffs; it felt like a championship win after all the struggles.”
Atkinson reflected on his early days: “My first year was wild—losing 27 out of 29 games. I remember thinking, ‘When can we actually win?’ It was overwhelming. But I believe this team’s breakthrough is coming—they’ve got promising talent and solid coaching. Eventually, it’s going to pay off.”
Despite the loss, the Nets showcased their young talent, even without Donovan Mitchell.
Michael Porter Jr. led with 26 points, but it was the young guys who showed up. First-round pick Danny Wolf had a stellar game, posting 23 points and career highs in rebounds and assists. He’s now in a select group of Nets rookies to achieve such numbers.
Nolan Traore, a teenage guard, added 17 points, and undrafted rookie Grant Nelson contributed 11 points and four rebounds.
On the other side, former Nets like James Harden and Jarrett Allen proved too much, combining for 42 points.
With this loss, Brooklyn is now tied for second in the lottery standings, alongside Indiana, trailing first-place Sacramento by 1.5 games.
Atkinson, who coached the Nets for four years, believes in the team’s future potential as they rebuild. He helped lead the team from the bottom of the league to playoff contention in his third year.
Recently, the Nets secured a win against Boston, marking a significant achievement. In this latest game, they showed more fight and were close at critical moments, especially when Wolf intentionally missed a free throw in a final attempt to turn the tide.
After a slow start, Brooklyn rallied back, with Traore’s jumper giving them a brief lead before halftime.
The game saw numerous shifts, leading to a tight fourth quarter. Josh Minott’s three-pointer briefly gave the Nets the lead once again, but they lost momentum and couldn’t reclaim it.
In the end, even with a late surge, they couldn’t overcome the Cavaliers, who capitalized on crucial plays in the closing moments.
