Warriors to add Atkinson as assistant coach

The Warriors are finalizing a deal to add former Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson to Steve Kerr’s staff, a league source confirmed with The Chronicle.

Atkinson, 54, is expected to join Mike Brown — another former NBA head coach — as one of Kerr’s lead assistants. After four years as the Nets’ head coach (201620), Atkinson spent this past season as a lead assistant to Clippers head coach Ty Lue.

Atkinson’s addition comes after he received interest for several headcoaching vacancies this summer, only to get passed over. He will take over the frontofthebench seat of Jarron Collins, who parted ways with the Warriors last month to pursue other coaching opportunities.

As the Nets’ head coach, Atkinson oversaw a quick rebuild that included the signings of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Atkinson reportedly clashed with his two new stars, and that friction was a big reason he and the team “mutually parted ways” in March 2020.

Still, Atkinson is respected throughout the league for his skill with player development and his basketball IQ. After going a combined 48116 in his first two seasons with the Nets, he helped them overcome a flawed roster to post a 4240 record and reach the playoffs in 2019.

Before taking over Brooklyn, Atkinson was an assistant for Paris Basket Racing (200406), the Knicks (200812) and the Hawks (201316). Atkinson joins a Warriors stuff enduring some turnover. In addition to Atkinson, Golden State is set to bring in Dejan Milojevic and Jama Mahlalela in playerdevelopment roles.

Milojevic is the former head coach of Buducnost Voli in Montenegro and KK Mega Basket in Serbia, where he coached a young Nikola Jokic. Mahlalela has been a key part of the Raptors’ playerdevelopment staff since 2013.