Brooklyn 100 Influencer: Kenny Atkinson, Brooklyn Nets Head Coach
After four years as an assistant coach across the river at Madison Square Garden with the Knicks, and another four in the same capacity, Kenny Atkinson finally was thrust into a leading role last year, when he nailed down the job as the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets, making the Barclays Center into his home for at least 41 games a year. With those eight years of experience on NBA sidelines—coupled with a 14-year international playing career as a point guard—Atkinson’s hiring was greatly lauded by NBA purists everywhere. Now, the fate of hoops in Brooklyn lie on his 6-foot-1 shoulders. It’ll take some time as the team works through a rebuild, but Atkinson is the kind of young coach that could grow alongside his young team.
Learn more about this year’s 100 Influencers in Brooklyn Culture.
Photo by Jane Bruce