Nets parting with Cavaliers' Kenny Atkinson fueled his COTY bid
The Brooklyn Nets made an important decision more than five years ago when they had a mutual parting with then-head coach Kenny Atkinson as the Nets had a 28-34 record. Since then, there has been to make over the paths that Brooklyn and Atkinson took since the parting, but Atkinson deems the splitting of ways to be beneficial to his coaching career.
"That one hurt," Atkinson said of the mutual parting, according to Shaun Powell of NBA.com. "Hurt me, hurt my family; they were settled in Brooklyn. You've got to sit down with your kids, tell them you've been fired. And it's also not just personal, but a competitive and pride thing. I'm a local. I do think in another city the blow would've been less, but coming to New York, it was more. I wanted to stay long there."
Advertisement
After the Nets parted ways with Atkinson, the team finished the 2019-20 season with a 7-3 record under interim head coach Jacque Vaughn, allowing them to make the NBA playoffs where they proceeded to be swept by the Toronto Raptors in the first round. After leaving Brooklyn, Atkinson went on to be an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors before being hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2024-25 campaign.
While Atkinson had a tough act to follow given that Cleveland fired JB Bickerstaff after the team finished with a 48-34 record before losing to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023-24 season, the former Nets coach managed to turn things around for the Cavaliers. Under Atkinson's watch, the Cavaliers went on to finish this season with a 64-18 record that earned him the Coach of the Year award.
"I'm definitely different," Atkinson continued. "I've changed. I wouldn't have been ready for this job before. I needed to get fired, needed those experiences, needed to go through all that. Now I feel super confident in my own skin, whereas before, maybe not that much." It's tough to say that a firing benefits someone, but it seems like Atkinson did what he could to learn from the situation and move on.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets parting with Cavaliers' Kenny Atkinson fueled his COTY bid
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nets could maximize No. 8 pick by taking Texas G Tre Johnson
The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025 NBA Draft with the eighth overall pick and with that pick, they could take a player who could make a significant impact. Brooklyn has been working out prospects in the hopes of focusing on players that they would like to have, but there is one player they could take to maximize their choice. "Johnson's knack for bucket-getting makes him well worth a swing in the top 10," Jeremy Woo wrote discussing Texas guard Tre Johnson for ESPN during his write up of a mock draft along with teammate Jonathan Givony. What makes this interesting to see from the duo is that Johnson seems to be regarded by most as a top-5 pick in the Draft, but it is possible that Woo and Givony and working from their own intel. Advertisement "While I have some reservations about his style of play, if a team can get Johnson to buy in and share the ball, his shooting ability could pay real dividends," Woo continued. "The Nets have enough shots to go around next season that this situation makes sense, and this is where I'd target Johnson, after the other top-scoring wing prospects are off the board." Johnson, 19, is coming off a 2024-25 season in which he averaged 19.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 42.7% from the field and 39.7% from behind the three-point line. Johnson may not make it to the eighth overall pick just based on the fact that he seems to be only behind Duke forward Cooper Flagg, Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, and Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe. Based off recent reporting, it seems that Rutger forward Ace Bailey could experience a slide in the draft so that could open the door for players like Johnson to be the fourth or even fifth overall pick. Either way, if Johnson were to slide to No. 8 when the draft begins on Wednesday, Brooklyn would most likely find out hard to pass up on a player with the scoring/shooting ability of Johnson. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets could maximize No. 8 pick by taking Texas G Tre Johnson
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
2025 NBA Mock Draft: Where Will Ace Bailey And Walter Clayton Jr. Go?
Walter Clayton Jr. hoists the NCAA championship trophy. His NBA draft stock has risen ... More significantly, too. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) The 2025 NBA Draft will be held June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y, where latest group of potential stars will be anointed. Dallas has the No. 1 choice in the first round June 25, with the second round scheduled the following day. There have been only two rounds in the draft since 1989. The Mavericks are considered a lock to take Duke forward Cooper Flagg with the first pick after winning May 12 draft lottery despite having only a 1.8 percent chance, the 11th-best odds in the 14-team lottery. The intrigue in this draft, which is not considered particularly deep because of the rise of NIL money on campus, begins after the first two picks — Flagg and Rutgers freshman guard Dylan Harper, who is widely expected to be taken second by the San Antonio Spurs. Rutgers forward Ace Bailey and Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. are among those who have seen their stock fluctuate recently. It would not be a surprise to see Bailey go the Philadelphia at No. 3. Nor would it be a surprise to see Brooklyn to move up in the draft – it has four picks, beginning at No. 8 – to select Bailey. 2025 NBA Mock Draft Round One 1. Dallas -- F Cooper Flagg 2. San Antonio — G Dylan Harper 3. Philadelphia — G V. J. Edgecombe 4. Charlotte — F Ace Bailey 5. Utah — F Kon Knueppel 6. Washington — G Tre Johnson 7. New Orleans — G Jeremiah Fears 8. Brooklyn — C Khaman Malouch 9. Toronto — G Egor Demin 10. Houston (from Phoenix via Brooklyn) — F Carter Bryant 11. Portland — G Kasparov Jakucionis 12. Chicago — C Derik Queen 13. Atlanta (from Sacramento) — C Joan Beringer 14. San Antonio (from Atlanta) — F Noa Essengue 15. Oklahoma City (from Miami via Clippers) — F Collin Murray-Boyles 16. Memphis (from Orlando) — G Jace Richardson 17. Minnesota (from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City and Houston) — G Walter Clayton Jr. 18. Washington (from Memphis) — F Cedric Coward 19. Brooklyn (from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland and New Orleans) — F Asa Newell 20. Miami (from Golden State) — G Nique Clifford 21. Utah (from Minnesota) — G Will Riley 22. Atlanta (from Lakers via New Orleans) — C Thomas Sorber 23. New Orleans (from Indiana) — F Rasheer Fleming 24. Oklahoma City (from the Clippers) — F Danny Wolf 25. Orlando (from Denver) — F Liam McNeely 26. Brooklyn (from New York) — F Noah Penda 27. Brooklyn (from Houston) — F Drake Powell 28. Boston — C Ryan Kalkbrenner 29. Phoenix (from Cleveland via Utah) — F Maxime Raynaud 30. LA Clippers (from Oklahoma City) — G Nolan Traore Nine teams do not have a first-round pick, all 2025 playoff teams – Denver, Golden State, Indiana, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee and Sacramento. Brooklyn has four picks — No. 8, 19, 26 and 27. The Phoenix Suns are fielding offers for forward Kevin Durant, and a trade could change the order. Ace Bailey Loses Inches, Support As recently as a month ago, Bailey (first name Airious) was expected to be the No. 2 pick after averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in his one season at Rutgers. But after being listed at 6-10 by the Scarlet Knights, Bailey was measured at 6-7 1-2 without shoes at the NBA Scouting Combine, creating an issue around his positional fit. That makes him 6-9 in shoes, which is not a particularly glaring difference. Teams also appear concerned that Bailey declined to work out prior to the draft. He canceled a work out scheduled at the Philadelphia, which picks third, leading some to speculate that he prefers a landing spot in the 4-5-6-7 range. Walter Clayton Jr. A Late Riser Clayton, who led Florida to the 2025 NCAA title, has gone from late first-rounder to possible lottery selection — top 14 — in recent weeks, and he was a late invitee to the draft's 'green room,' where the players who are considered likely to be picked early gather. He is a smallish 6-2, but his transition to lead guard this season after spending most the of the three previous years off the ball opened scouts' eyes. Throw in his 'clutch' gene, and there is a lot to like. Clayton had 30 points against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, leading Florida back from a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes, and followed that with 34 points in a comeback victory over Auburn in the national semifinal. He averaged 22.3 points in the NCAA tournament and was the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to have consecutive 30-point games in the Elite Eight and Final Four. "He's had the best six weeks of any player in the country,' one NBA scout told CBS Sports, 'and has taken himself from a late second round pick to a no-brainer first round pick." As the Indiana Pacers have proven this season, especially, ball-handling guards with quickness and the ability to score are always welcome.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Daddy's coming home with pole position. Denny Hamlin celebrates new son with top spot at Pocono
Denny Hamlin (11) and Chase Briscoe (19) battle for position during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Denny Hamlin (11) and Chase Briscoe (19) battle for position during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Pocono Raceway paints its signature black rocks outside the garage in gold lettering with a last name and race car number highlighted to honor some of NASCAR's greats. Jimmie Johnson has one. So does Richard Petty, among others. So where's the celebratory boulder for Denny Hamlin, who holds the track record with seven wins and saw another victory thrown out in 2022 because of a disqualification? Advertisement Hamlin laughed when he said Pocono officials told him the requirement was, 'either retire or die.' At 44 years old, Hamlin — who just welcomed a son with fiancee Jordan Fish — should have the prime of his life ahead. As for retirement? What, and miss out on all the fun? Even without a Cup championship on his resume, Hamlin remains a dominant force in the sport and he showed again Saturday why he's the driver to beat on the 2 1/2-mile tri-oval track. Hamlin skipped last week's race in Mexico City following his son's birth and returned without missing a beat, turning a lap of 172.599 mph to take the top spot in Sunday's race. Advertisement 'Truthfully, I'm on a run,' Hamlin said. 'I don't know how else to say it.' Yes, life is good for Hamlin, especially after the couple welcomed their third child, Jameson Drew Hamlin, on June 11. Hamlin shared in a social media post that the baby was delivered at 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was measured at 22 3/4 inches. The name has special meaning: The three-time Daytona 500 champion's given name is James Dennis Alan Hamlin. So his son's name is for James' son and the JD theme is for two men (JD Gibbs and James Dean) who helped launch his career path into NASCAR. Hamlin said a difficult labor and the logistical issues of traveling on short notice to Mexico forced him to miss the race. 'If we were racing at Darlington,' he said, 'I would have been there on race day.' Advertisement The layoff didn't affect Hamlin. He earned his third NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and 57th of his career on June 8 at Michigan International Speedway and jumped right back into the top spot at Pocono. Maybe some unexpected rest this week helped Hamlin crush it in the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. 'He's slept through the night the last three nights in a row. So it's been really, really great,' Hamlin said. If anything keeps Hamlin stirring at night, it's the acrimonious legal fight with NASCAR that continues to drag in court. A federal judge urged NASCAR and two of its teams to settle their lawsuit that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing this week. 23XI Racing, which is owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan, is fighting with NASCAR along with Front Row Motorsports. The two teams say the series is a monopoly, but NASCAR has struck back with a countersuit of its own. Advertisement Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing the teams, said he was open to a settlement. Hamlin said Saturday at Pocono he also was open to a settlement, but said no offer of one had been made on their side and wouldn't be at least until there is a mediation attempt. Kessler said NASCAR was uninterested in a settlement. 'I have stated publicly cooler heads will prevail,' Hamlin said. 'I can tell you this, this is not on our end that needs cooler heads. I think the difference is they're saying different things on their side. We're prepared to go all the way.' Hamlin is going to try and go all the way and win at Pocono with his fifth pole in 36 races at the track. Hamlin is the 5-1 betting favorite to win Sunday, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Advertisement 'It's a track that no matter the car we drive or the tires or the aero package, none of that really matters,' Hamlin said. 'You still make speed at this racetrack the same way no matter what car you are driving. I think it's been one of the few tracks I haven't had to change my approach to it depending on the car that I'm driving. I think that's why the success has been sustained.' The rest of the lineup Chris Buescher starts second at Pocono and Carson Hocevar — embroiled in a feud with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who has vowed retaliation for recent wrecks — is third. John Hunter Nemechek is fourth and Cole Custer fifth. Led by Hamlin, Toyota had six of the top-10 starting spots. Advertisement Pocono sellout Pocono Raceway continued its renaissance with a third straight sellout crowd set for Sunday. The track sold out all frontstretch seating, premium seating, suites, infield camping and the grandstand camping area. It also is the fifth consecutive year that the entire infield camping inventory has been sold out. Pocono President Ben May said the track sold around 50,000 grandstand tickets, around 2,000 suite seats and 3,300 camping spots. NASCAR traditionally ran two NASCAR weekends at the track until 2022. The sellout streak started the next year and it was the first since 2010. 'When you look at this weekend, it's sold out. It's fantastic,' three-time Cup champion Joey Logano said. Advertisement NASCAR expressed at least a cursory interest in adding to its recent string of offbeat race locations — everywhere from Mexico City to a temporary track inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — and floated the idea of holding a race inside a Philadelphia stadium, Franklin Field. The site is traditionally home to the Penn Relays and college football. May said he wasn't necessarily concerned another race within driving distance of the mountains — about 100 miles away — would affect Pocono. 'When you get into center city and Philly proper, it's a stick-and-ball town,' May said. 'I'm very comfortable with Pocono's position on the schedule for a long time.' ___ AP auto racing:
