He is an honest and direct player development coach who brings out the best in his team.
Brooklyn hopes that happens with Jordi Fernandez.
But they knew Kenny Atkinson was it.
And on Saturday, they will be reunited with the coach they dumped, now the head coach of the undefeated Cavaliers.
Atkinson, a Long Island native who coached the Nets for parts of four seasons from 2016 to 2020, is in his first head coaching job since then and is the league's only undefeated team at 10-0 in the NBA. He is leading the most popular team.
He's reminding everyone that the Nets gave up a player Fernandez had high hopes for.
Yes, technically Mr. Atkinson has resigned.
But it mostly felt like someone was pushing me from behind and grabbing my leg.
The 57-year-old Huntington native realized his time in Brooklyn was up and decided to go out on his own terms.
After Atkinson called a postgame team meeting in 2019-20, Kevin Durant, who had spent the season rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, reportedly spent the meeting deteriorating the team's condition.
Atkinson had yet to form a bond with Kyrie Irving as he was in and out of the lineup with injuries.
The writing wasn't just on the wall. It was glowing spray paint.
There, Brooklyn parted ways with Atkinson.
The latter spent the next season as an assistant to Ty Lue with the Clippers and the next three seasons with Steve Kerr in Golden State.
He earned his first NBA championship ring in 2022, but had more experience with competing teams and All-Star players than what he gained from working with Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard.
Now, Atkinson has both in Cleveland, reuniting with former Nets Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen as well as Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
“That's crazy. He's my first coach. He's a great coach and a great guy. He believed in me,” said Nick, who was a rookie during Atkinson's final year in Brooklyn. Claxton spoke to the Post before the Nets' 108-104 overtime loss to the Celtics in Boston on Friday night. “I'm happy for him to be here with a lot of guys. Now they're in Cleveland, coaches and players, so I'm happy for him and to play against him. It will be fun.”
Atkinson also has former Nets forward DeMarre Carroll on his staff, as well as Jordan Ott (who worked with him in Brooklyn) and Trevor Hendry (who was his video assistant). Patrick Licursi became a forward scout after serving in the same role in Brooklyn.
“He's back where he's supposed to be as a head coach, so it's good to see,” Claxton said. “He's a great coach, very smart, hard-working. He's a great coach.”
During Friday's loss, the Nets started Claxton at center and Ben Simmons came off the bench. … Jaylen Brown (left hip flexor strain), Luke Cornette (right hamstring strain) and Kristaps Porzingis (offseason surgery) missed the game against Boston.
Noah Clowney was available after being listed as questionable.
However, Bojan Bogdanovic (returning from a left foot injury), Dayron Sharpe (left hamstring strain), and Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain) were absent.
