The Charlotte Hornets reportedly reached an agreement with Kenny Atkinson to become their head coach last week, but the Golden State Warriors assistant appears to be staying in the Bay Area.
Atkinson will turn down his four-year agreement with the Hornets and remain with the 2022 NBA champions, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal between Atkinson and Charlotte had only been agreed upon in principle and a contract was never signed, per Wojnarowski.
Atkinson’s decision reopens the coaching search for the Hornets, who fired James Borrego on April 22.
Charlotte and Utah are the only remaining teams with a coaching vacancy.
Atkinson will become the top assistant for a team that just won its fourth title in eight seasons. Mike Brown had previously been the top assistant on Steve Kerr’s staff but accepted the head coaching position with the Sacramento Kings.
Brown’s deal was announced by the Kings in May.
Atkinson, meanwhile, joined the Warriors at the beginning of the 2021-22 season after spending the previous campaign as an LA Clippers assistant. Prior to that, he served as the coach of the Brooklyn Nets for three-plus seasons, building a 118-190 record in his only stint as a head coach.
