Kenny Atkinson agreed to become the Hornets’ head coach in June before backing out of that agreement and remaining with the Warriors as an assistant coach. Speaking to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, Atkinson admitted he “didn’t love how it went down,” but feels very strongly that he made the right decision for him and his family.
“This isn’t my first rodeo; I’ve had a lot of experience in this league,” Atkinson said. “But from a leadership standpoint, top to bottom, plus 1-through-15, we have a great group. Usually, there’s something that doesn’t work. Something staff-wise that’s not always perfect. But this is kind of perfect.
“Well, nothing’s perfect, but this is as close to perfect as you can get. I’m not just saying that to blow smoke. Everything kind of comes together here, from a staff and front-office leadership standpoint. It’s all impressive. And probably the most important thing, it’s led by Steph (Curry).”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Donte DiVincenzo, who continues to deal with a hamstring injury, is “unlikely” to play during the Warriors’ upcoming five-game road trip, head coach Steve Kerr said on Thursday (Twitter link via Anthony Slater of The Athletic). If he’s ruled out for that trip, the earliest possible return date for DiVincenzo would be November 7, against his old team, the Kings.
- After playing between seven and 15 minutes in each of Golden State’s first four games, Jonathan Kuminga was a DNP-CD on Thursday vs. Miami. Kerr said after the game that it’s difficult to play more than 10 players a night, but he believes that “Jonathan’s time will come” and that the young forward is continuing to develop and grow even without consistent playing time (Twitter video link via Slater).
- Speaking on Thursday to reporters, including ESPN’s Kendra Andrews (Twitter link), Andre Iguodala said that he and the Warriors have a target date in mind for him to make his season debut, but he doesn’t want to disclose it yet. Iguodala has yet to scrimmage with the team, but thinks he’s getting close to doing so.
I see some time in the G league for Kuminga just so he stays sharp. Moody and Wiseman are showing themselves to be future of the club so if Kuminga stalls he will be traded for draft picks.
Lol no one is getting traded, stop it.
Someone needs to slap Kerr for playing Ty Jerome over Kuminga, that’s it. Fire Kerr and suddenly all the players would ascend to levels we never thought possible.
Haha, good one.
@A’sfan Dude get the hell out with that nonsense. Kuminga has been trash this season so far
They play 2 different positions so why would you want Kuminga to be a point guard? Kerr is doing a good job its people like you with no patience is the problem.
I want Rollins to be a PG then, ANYONE but a freaking 2-way player. Like…why? We are the best team in the league by a long way, the roster is STACKED, and then we get scrub G leaguers????? Make it make sense.
SMH because it takes time to build chemistry on the court. Notice how many missed passes and defensive lapses they have been doing. They had a short preseason due to championship and Japan preseason. It takes time to gel and the team to have that chemistry. The west is stacked this year so its no easy road.
Imagine whining about something so insignificant 5 games into the season of a clear contending year.
Kuminga shouldn’t be getting minutes anyway.
Kuminga and Rollins smh.
It’s amazing when your best player leads by example, selflessness, humility, and excellence. Steph Curry is one of a kind. Not super athletic but hard work got him to where he is today. Overcame the ankle problems, made up for lack of size strength and quickness with his amazing handles. Exemplary life 100%.
“it’s difficult to play more than 10 players a night” but Kerr is literally playing a guy off the street, an utterly useless 2-way player in Ty Jerome, who singlehandedly lost that game vs Phoenix, over high ceiling first rounder Kuminga. I hate Kerr so much. He is the worst coach ever who just gets bailed out by 30 over and over and over. Just clueless. He should go 80-2 with this roster, any idiot could do this, you simply do not play Ty Jerome and Anthony Lamb, as neither of them are NBA-level talent, and you never lose – and even worse, fans do not pay to watch the SC Warriors, they pay to watch NBA players, not G-Leaguers. Fans should sue Kerr for playing Jerome over Kuminga, straight up that is farcical.
Since Kerr isn’t going away any time soon… why don’t you find another team to follow and stop posting on the Warriors . Your takes are hot garbage
@X’s_ and_O’s I’ve been a diehard since 1994, you don’t know ball, so, silence, petulant child!
You would think in almost 30 years of fandom that you would have better takes then.
@ A’sfan… right… your posts are straight band wagon takes. If you’re a true Warrior fan from the 90s you’d know how much we’ve struggled before Kerr. So child please… just sit in the caboose on the band wagon and enjoy the ride. Let the adults discuss basketball … or can I be a cool kid and say “ball”
If you have to say how long you’ve been a “diehard” fan for… you’re definitely exaggerating and a bandwagon fan.
” Ty Jerome, who singlehandedly lost that game vs Phoenix,” haha, great satire by A’sfaninUK.
What lost it for the warriors is the refs got into their head by letting Suns foul and not the warriors. That was poor ref work and not the first time when refs got into the warriors head and they imploded.
Klay Thompson is off to a terrible start. I guess he cannot be criticized so a peon who has played 20 minutes in 5 games must be sacrificed to the basketball gods as the cause of the Warriors mediocre start.
The disrespect the Warriors get from the league is absurd – 5 road games in 7 nights with 2 B2Bs is the worst 7 game stretch given any team this season.
The trade off for going to Japan was coming back and staying home the next 3 weeks or whatever it was. They took it and here’s the aftermath.
Every single national commentary team is openly rooting against the Warriors too, its disgraceful. Steph Curry better.
Seeing how little/bad Kuminga has played, the Kuminga, Moody, Poole trade for Durant looks a lot
Better
Kuminga will be a star in this L. His day is coming. Theres no need to rush with him. Especially when you are the defending champs.
I don’t see Warriors going back to Finals. Unless Wiseman plays a major role. He’s playing less than 17 mins so far. His presence on D. Is what they really need. He’s got solid numbers so far 11 pts, 5.4 reb. He is the future of this franchise. And he can play a major role on this team.
I think he’ll be a regular, but there’s almost no chance he’s a star (if we have the same definition of “star.”)