• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The 2024 Best Employers in Sports Award winners have been announced! See the full list of winners

Kenny Atkinson Is The Right Coach For Jordan’s Young Hornets

  • Charlotte has the longest active streak in the NBA without a playoff series win (18 seasons).
  • Atkinson transformed a 20-win Nets team to a 42-win team in two seasons.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Jordan’s on-court dominance has yet to translate to his career as an NBA owner, but hiring head coach Kenny Atkinson was a big step in the right direction. 

Charlotte has missed the last six playoffs and hasn’t won a series for 18 straight seasons — tying the Kings and Timberwolves for longest active streak — but with potential superstar LaMelo Ball and plenty of cap room, Jordan has arguably never been in a better position to succeed.

Enter Atkinson, who brings 16 years of experience and a reputation for maximizing talent, most notably for a Nets team with few draft picks and a deceptively low payroll.

  • He improved the Nets’ record from 20 to 42 wins within two seasons, getting them back into the playoffs in 2019.
  • The 42-win Nets had the 17th-highest payroll in the NBA ($118.9M) — but allotted $40M of it to players who played no more than 12 games.
  • He’s credited with developing young players such as Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris, D’Angelo Russell, and Caris LeVert.

The Hornets have $109 million on the books for the 2022-23 season — 10th-lowest in the NBA — but Jordan isn’t known for big spending. 

The 2016-17 campaign’s $103 million payroll was the only Jordan team to rank in the top 10 since he bought the team in 2010.

But if Atkinson can unleash the most out of Hornet cornerstones like Ball, Miles Bridges, and Terry Rozier, His Airness’ front-office career might finally take flight.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sponsored

Racing Forward: How SailGP is Redefining High-Performance Sailing and Championing Gender Equality

SailGP is redefining high-performance sailing through their bold commitment to gender equality and their Women’s Performance Program.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Elon Musk looks on before Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.

Can Elon Musk’s X Fix Its Rampant Fake Sports News Problem?

Little is known about how X will enforce its new policy aimed at parody accounts.
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives past New York Liberty forwards Kayla Thornton (5) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (44) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center.

Kelsey Plum Backs Out of Unrivaled

She’s skipping the new league’s season, along with Caitlin Clark.
Nov 26, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Keeshawn Barthelemy (9) approaches Texas A&M Aggies guard CJ Wilcher (10) during the first half at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory

Is This $9 Million Basketball Tournament the ‘Future of College Sports’?

NIL opportunities for players are scheduled throughout the six-day tournament.

Featured Today

Nov 2, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a Wilson NBA basketball held by a referee during the second half between the Utah Jazz against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena

‘Obvious Weak Point’: Refs Remain an NBA Gambling Concern

A season after Jontay Porter, the biggest risk may not be players.
Nov 2, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines cheerleader runs with a flag before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Michigan Stadium.
opinion
December 7, 2024

College Football’s Billionaire Backer Era Begins

Is this the new normal in CFB recruiting?
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic (9) celebrates with midfielder Riqui Puig (10) after scoring a goal against Seattle Sounders FC in the second half in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference Final match at Dignity Health Sports Park
December 6, 2024

With or Without Messi, Major League Soccer Is Barreling Into the Future

After the Cup final, the league looks to accelerate its growth.
Dec 18, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; FIFA president Gianni Infantino claps during the awards ceremony after the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium.
December 2, 2024

FIFA Wants More Matches. Resistance Is Growing Inside the Global Soccer World

Resentment and frustration over expanded schedules is nearing a breaking point.
Kyle Shanahan

Kyle Shanahan Dismisses Trade Rumors That Would Put Him in Elite Company

Shanahan said after Sunday’s game he doesn’t want to be traded away.
Nov 9, 2024; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo Martino reacts in the second half against the Atlanta United FC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Chase Stadium.
November 20, 2024

Messi’s Inter Miami Coach Quits After Best Regular MLS Season Ever

Gerardo “Tata” Martino has been with Miami for about as long as Messi.
November 20, 2024

Deion Sanders Downplays NFL Smoke As Former Cowboys Lobby for Him

The Colorado coach says “I’ve got a kickstand down” in Boulder.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 13, 2024

WNBA Raids College Coaching Ranks As Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko

Smesko is regarded as one of the top coaches in women’s college basketball.
Aug 3, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (11) drives past Manchester United Harry Amass (41) at Williams-Brice Stadium.
November 11, 2024

Premier League Ref Suspended for Wild Rants Against Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp

The unverified video shows the referee since 2018 disparaging Liverpool.
November 10, 2024

Deion Sanders Gets $100,000 Bonus for Every Remaining Colorado Win

Sanders has reportedly made $400,000 in bonuses, with another $100,000 for every additional win.
Nov 2, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney reacts during the fourth quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at Memorial Stadium.
November 5, 2024

Dabo Swinney Encounters Voting Mix-Up on Election Day

“They done voted me out of the state, lost a game,” Swinney joked.