It’s possible that Los Angeles may be the destination of primary assistant Kenny Atkinson, who won a championship with the Warriors in 2022. As of May 13, Atkinson was the overwhelming choice to take over as head coach of the Lakers.
Among the others who interviewed in 2022 for the position were Adrian Gryphon, Terry Stotts, Charles Lee, and Mark Jackson. In 2024, Stotts has resurfaced as a contender in the Lakers’ biannual coaching search, much like Atkinson did. Even Lee was supposedly a target, but on May 9, the assistant for the Celtics was named the Hornets’ next coach.
One of the most prominent coaching positions in sports, head coach of the Lakers, would benefit greatly from Atkinson’s experience, acumen, and lineage. In addition to his role in the Warriors’ 2022 championship run, Atkinson is regarded for having helped the Brooklyn Nets establish a winning culture during his four seasons there, from 2016–17 to 2019–20. Many believe that the Brooklyn Nets signed free agents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019 because of Atkinson’s tenure as head coach there. Despite not being able to coach those superstars, Atkinson established himself in Golden State as Steve Kerr’s assistant, a position at which he thrived.
Respect for Peers: Warriors coach Steve Kerr, for instance, has frequently complimented Atkinson on his work as a member of his staff. In particular, Kerr expressed gratitude to Atkinson for declining the head coaching position with the Hornets in 2022 in order to stay with Golden State.
According to Sports Illustrated, Kerr stated in June 2022, “We’re lucky to have him back, especially losing Mike Brown. I need Kenny, and I’m thrilled he’s back.”
Atkinson has also talked very highly of his time spent sitting beneath Kerr’s learning tree. In March 2023, Atkinson expressed his hope to use the lessons he has learnt from Kerr to his future endeavours in the league in an interview with 95.7’s The Game.
Who Will Coach the Lakers Next?
The Lakers are anticipated to begin calling potential coaches “in the coming days,” according to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin on May 13. Their initial focus will be on assistants and former head coaches who they haven’t yet conducted interviews. People like Stotts and Atkinson would be suitable for that.
According to the article, the top spots on that list were occupied by active assistant coaches like Chris Quinn of the Miami Heat and James Borrego of the New Orleans Pelicans. It was also mentioned that Rob Pelinka, general manager of the Lakers and vice president of basketball operations, had been investigating a number of prospects, including ESPN commentator JJ Redick.
According to the study, “those the organisation hasn’t met with in previous searches, or simply knows less than other candidates, will be the initial wave of requests for interview permission.”
It is not anticipated that the Lakers will choose their new head coach quickly. On May 10, Jovan Buha of The Athletic claimed that instead of making a snap selection, the Lakers front management is “casting a wide net” and considering a long list of prospects.
