Knicks · Kenny Atkinson leaving? (page 1)

Kenny Atkinson, NY Knicks assistant coach, nearing deal to join Atlanta Hawks coaching staff
The Long Island native was the only coach from the Mike D’Antoni regime who wasn’t removed last March after D’Antoni abruptly resigned.
By Frank Isola / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, August 6, 2012, 9:30 AM

.. .LONDON – Kenny Atkinson, the Knicks highly regarded assistant coach whom Jeremy Lin credited for his meteoric rise last season, is close to a deal to join the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff, the Daily News has learned.

According to a source close to Atkinson, he is leaving the Knicks for a position on Larry Drew’s bench. Atkinson was the Knicks player development coach and sat behind the bench at games.

The Long Island native was the only coach from the Mike D’Antoni regime who wasn’t removed last March after D’Antoni abruptly resigned. Instead of promoting Atkinson, Mike Woodson elected to hire Jim Todd and Darrell Walker to fill the vacancies left by Phil Weber and Dan D’Antoni.

Atkinson grew close to Lin during the season and had dinner with the point guard after Lin first met with the Houston Rockets during the free agent recruiting period in July. It is unclear if that relationship factored into Atkinson’s decision to leave. Garden Chairman James Dolan was upset with Lin for having Houston increase its offer to $25 million over three years including a balloon payment of $14 million in the final year. The Knicks have the right of first refusal but elected not to match the offer.

Several years earlier, Dolan wanted Atkinson removed from the coaching staff because he believed he was talking to the media. However, former Knicks president Donnie Walsh insisted that Atkinson stay. Atkinson was barred from speaking to certain reporters.

Two years later, Dolan would not allow Atkinson out of his contract to the join the Portland Trail Blazers.

Atkinson is seen a head coaching prospect in the mold of two former Knicks assistant coaches; Jeff Van Gundy and Tom Thibodeau. Woodson will now have to find a player development coach with the energy and dedication Atkinson gave the organization.

“I mean this guy wakes up at 6 a.m. every morning,” Lin said last February. ““I’ll text after a game at midnight, 1 o’clock when I go home and I’ll say, ‘Hey can I look at those turnovers. Can I look at the upcoming team? How they run pick and rolls?’ And he ’ll have the film ready when I walk into the facility the next morning.

“When I wasn’t playing much, we were working out before practice, and after practice he was picking apart my game, teaching me what it’s like to play in Coach D’Antoni’s system.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/$m.local.contentUrl#ixzz22m9Fd8cR

Nalod wrote:Article with negative Dolan slant. The vindictive little shyt with his propoganda policy and holding guys from advancement.

Sorry, are you talking about Dolan or Isola?

I never get why people who are rich and powerful, become obsessed with and can't handle criticism, it's like Putin having that punk band 'p***y riot' prosecuted at te moment for insulting him.

A shame to lose Atkinson, but then again we don't have any young players for him to help develop really.

smackeddog wrote:

Nalod wrote:Article with negative Dolan slant. The vindictive little shyt with his propoganda policy and holding guys from advancement.

Sorry, are you talking about Dolan or Isola?

I never get why people who are rich and powerful, become obsessed with and can't handle criticism, it's like Putin having that punk band 'p***y riot' prosecuted at te moment for insulting him.

A shame to lose Atkinson, but then again we don't have any young players for him to help develop really.

Iman Shumpert. Currently our only hope after 2015.

smackeddog wrote:

Nalod wrote:Article with negative Dolan slant. The vindictive little shyt with his propoganda policy and holding guys from advancement.

Sorry, are you talking about Dolan or Isola?

I never get why people who are rich and powerful, become obsessed with and can't handle criticism, it's like Putin having that punk band 'p***y riot' prosecuted at te moment for insulting him.

A shame to lose Atkinson, but then again we don't have any young players for him to help develop really.

Isola likes to stir the pot so take the Media hate as its intended but over the years Dolan has this vindictive streak which is he has to compensate for by over paying some players/coach's. It got real ugly with Larry Brown. I can't ever remember a coach leaving after one year of a 4 year deal based on mostly non basketball issues. Don Nelson was canned for not giving Ewing the ball. Not to say Larry did not have fault, but really that was the kind of crap that gets GM's fired as well.

Coaches should be about basketball and when an assitant has a change to be promoted by another team you usually let the guy go and wish him well. Not hold him to his contract out of spite.

Makes one appreciate the Way MDA and MSG did their divorce. It was handled very nice with Woodson taking over with MDA blessing (at least publically) and the team transitioned very well to finish strong.

IM sure Woodson wanted his guys on the bench so its good Atkinson getting to move on.

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

Yep. Herb is the truth. In Herb we trust.

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

For real, you're really arguing the merits of an assistant coach that catches shooters rebounds???

What does this have to do with the Knicks success? I don't see the point, I really don't.

I was dying to get Tom Thibodeau, when the Knicks signed D'Antoni instead, based on Tom being the defensive architect of the Boston title team, and also because of Tom's past ties with NY. I don't think a rebound catcher had that much input into the Knicks huddle at all the past couple years.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

Nalod wrote:Article with negative Dolan slant. The vindictive little shyt with his propoganda policy and holding guys from advancement.

Sorry, are you talking about Dolan or Isola?

I never get why people who are rich and powerful, become obsessed with and can't handle criticism, it's like Putin having that punk band 'p***y riot' prosecuted at te moment for insulting him.

A shame to lose Atkinson, but then again we don't have any young players for him to help develop really.

Iman Shumpert. Currently our only hope after 2015.

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

For real, you're really arguing the merits of an assistant coach that catches shooters rebounds???

What does this have to do with the Knicks success? I don't see the point, I really don't.

I was dying to get Tom Thibodeau, when the Knicks signed D'Antoni instead, based on Tom being the defensive architect of the Boston title team, and also because of Tom's past ties with NY. I don't think a rebound catcher had that much input into the Knicks huddle at all the past couple years.

You have to start somewhere. Identifying Coaching talent starts early too you know. Thibs wasn't always as widely known as he eventually became. You knew who Thibs was because he had gotten notoriety. You don't know that Atkinson won't also eventually get to be a hot prospect like that. He's off to a good start so far.

Further you underestimate just what Atkinson does to say that he "catches Shooters rebounds". What kind of ignorant statement is that?

Kenny was brought in because of his resume as a player development guy that knew the style that fit MDA's approach:

“I would say my formation as a coach is more from an international standpoint,” says Kenny. “That’s where I learned to coach, and there’s a big emphasis on skill work and shooting; an up-tempo and open style that’s predicated on good skills.”

Atkinson, 43, joined the Knicks staff on Aug. 6, 2008 and brought a strong background in the international game, player development and scouting to New York. The Long Island native is in his fourth overall NBA season. In 2007-08, he served as Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets.

Atkinson’s NBA career follows an overseas odyssey in which he became a student of the international game. Kenny joined the Rockets in 2007 following three years as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06). He has served as a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 through 2010. He spent the summer of 2006 as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia. In summer 2009, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders trip to Mexico City.

So for those that wonder why he was singled out for this article as a D'Antoni guy there you go. He was a coach that could teach the Euro style which fit right into what MDA wanted his players to learn. It would seem that he has no real role with Woodson's team given the style he will emphasize.

nixluva wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

For real, you're really arguing the merits of an assistant coach that catches shooters rebounds???

What does this have to do with the Knicks success? I don't see the point, I really don't.

I was dying to get Tom Thibodeau, when the Knicks signed D'Antoni instead, based on Tom being the defensive architect of the Boston title team, and also because of Tom's past ties with NY. I don't think a rebound catcher had that much input into the Knicks huddle at all the past couple years.

You have to start somewhere. Identifying Coaching talent starts early too you know. Thibs wasn't always as widely known as he eventually became. You knew who Thibs was because he had gotten notoriety. You don't know that Atkinson won't also eventually get to be a hot prospect like that. He's off to a good start so far.

Further you underestimate just what Atkinson does to say that he "catches Shooters rebounds". What kind of ignorant statement is that?

Kenny was brought in because of his resume as a player development guy that knew the style that fit MDA's approach:

“I would say my formation as a coach is more from an international standpoint,” says Kenny. “That’s where I learned to coach, and there’s a big emphasis on skill work and shooting; an up-tempo and open style that’s predicated on good skills.”

Atkinson, 43, joined the Knicks staff on Aug. 6, 2008 and brought a strong background in the international game, player development and scouting to New York. The Long Island native is in his fourth overall NBA season. In 2007-08, he served as Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets.

Atkinson’s NBA career follows an overseas odyssey in which he became a student of the international game. Kenny joined the Rockets in 2007 following three years as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06). He has served as a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 through 2010. He spent the summer of 2006 as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia. In summer 2009, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders trip to Mexico City.

So for those that wonder why he was singled out for this article as a D'Antoni guy there you go. He was a coach that could teach the Euro style which fit right into what MDA wanted his players to learn. It would seem that he has no real role with Woodson's team given the style he will emphasize.

Are guys really upset that Kenny Atkinson is leaving the Knicks? Non-story, filler for the slow summer.

Next thing you know we'll be eulogizing the ball boy or sweat sweeper because they changed career paths.

nixluva wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

For real, you're really arguing the merits of an assistant coach that catches shooters rebounds???

What does this have to do with the Knicks success? I don't see the point, I really don't.

I was dying to get Tom Thibodeau, when the Knicks signed D'Antoni instead, based on Tom being the defensive architect of the Boston title team, and also because of Tom's past ties with NY. I don't think a rebound catcher had that much input into the Knicks huddle at all the past couple years.

You have to start somewhere. Identifying Coaching talent starts early too you know. Thibs wasn't always as widely known as he eventually became. You knew who Thibs was because he had gotten notoriety. You don't know that Atkinson won't also eventually get to be a hot prospect like that. He's off to a good start so far.

Further you underestimate just what Atkinson does to say that he "catches Shooters rebounds". What kind of ignorant statement is that?

Kenny was brought in because of his resume as a player development guy that knew the style that fit MDA's approach:

“I would say my formation as a coach is more from an international standpoint,” says Kenny. “That’s where I learned to coach, and there’s a big emphasis on skill work and shooting; an up-tempo and open style that’s predicated on good skills.”

Atkinson, 43, joined the Knicks staff on Aug. 6, 2008 and brought a strong background in the international game, player development and scouting to New York. The Long Island native is in his fourth overall NBA season. In 2007-08, he served as Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets.

Atkinson’s NBA career follows an overseas odyssey in which he became a student of the international game. Kenny joined the Rockets in 2007 following three years as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06). He has served as a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 through 2010. He spent the summer of 2006 as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia. In summer 2009, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders trip to Mexico City.

So for those that wonder why he was singled out for this article as a D'Antoni guy there you go. He was a coach that could teach the Euro style which fit right into what MDA wanted his players to learn. It would seem that he has no real role with Woodson's team given the style he will emphasize.

So obviously we will not be making the playoffs due to this and the Hawks are on their way to their first chip. Book it!
Hurry and get a seat on the new UK negativity bandwagon: tracking ex-assitant coach careers!

Teaching the "Euro style", "good skills", "Republic of Georgia"....hmmmm...no defense, shoot alot, really really high pick and rolls, shoot alot.

Sorry, but that sounds like a shot-catcher to me.

ChuckBuck wrote:

nixluva wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

For real, you're really arguing the merits of an assistant coach that catches shooters rebounds???

What does this have to do with the Knicks success? I don't see the point, I really don't.

I was dying to get Tom Thibodeau, when the Knicks signed D'Antoni instead, based on Tom being the defensive architect of the Boston title team, and also because of Tom's past ties with NY. I don't think a rebound catcher had that much input into the Knicks huddle at all the past couple years.

You have to start somewhere. Identifying Coaching talent starts early too you know. Thibs wasn't always as widely known as he eventually became. You knew who Thibs was because he had gotten notoriety. You don't know that Atkinson won't also eventually get to be a hot prospect like that. He's off to a good start so far.

Further you underestimate just what Atkinson does to say that he "catches Shooters rebounds". What kind of ignorant statement is that?

Kenny was brought in because of his resume as a player development guy that knew the style that fit MDA's approach:

“I would say my formation as a coach is more from an international standpoint,” says Kenny. “That’s where I learned to coach, and there’s a big emphasis on skill work and shooting; an up-tempo and open style that’s predicated on good skills.”

Atkinson, 43, joined the Knicks staff on Aug. 6, 2008 and brought a strong background in the international game, player development and scouting to New York. The Long Island native is in his fourth overall NBA season. In 2007-08, he served as Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets.

Atkinson’s NBA career follows an overseas odyssey in which he became a student of the international game. Kenny joined the Rockets in 2007 following three years as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06). He has served as a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 through 2010. He spent the summer of 2006 as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia. In summer 2009, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders trip to Mexico City.

So for those that wonder why he was singled out for this article as a D'Antoni guy there you go. He was a coach that could teach the Euro style which fit right into what MDA wanted his players to learn. It would seem that he has no real role with Woodson's team given the style he will emphasize.

Are guys really upset that Kenny Atkinson is leaving the Knicks? Non-story, filler for the slow summer.

Next thing you know we'll be eulogizing the ball boy or sweat sweeper because they changed career paths.

This quite interesting. your taking a "non story" and making it into a legitimate issue to which you are trying to debate.

So its not the fact Atkinson is leaving but the fact that you think debating his leaving is more important than him actually leaving.

Nalod wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

nixluva wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

For real, you're really arguing the merits of an assistant coach that catches shooters rebounds???

What does this have to do with the Knicks success? I don't see the point, I really don't.

I was dying to get Tom Thibodeau, when the Knicks signed D'Antoni instead, based on Tom being the defensive architect of the Boston title team, and also because of Tom's past ties with NY. I don't think a rebound catcher had that much input into the Knicks huddle at all the past couple years.

You have to start somewhere. Identifying Coaching talent starts early too you know. Thibs wasn't always as widely known as he eventually became. You knew who Thibs was because he had gotten notoriety. You don't know that Atkinson won't also eventually get to be a hot prospect like that. He's off to a good start so far.

Further you underestimate just what Atkinson does to say that he "catches Shooters rebounds". What kind of ignorant statement is that?

Kenny was brought in because of his resume as a player development guy that knew the style that fit MDA's approach:

“I would say my formation as a coach is more from an international standpoint,” says Kenny. “That’s where I learned to coach, and there’s a big emphasis on skill work and shooting; an up-tempo and open style that’s predicated on good skills.”

Atkinson, 43, joined the Knicks staff on Aug. 6, 2008 and brought a strong background in the international game, player development and scouting to New York. The Long Island native is in his fourth overall NBA season. In 2007-08, he served as Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets.

Atkinson’s NBA career follows an overseas odyssey in which he became a student of the international game. Kenny joined the Rockets in 2007 following three years as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06). He has served as a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 through 2010. He spent the summer of 2006 as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia. In summer 2009, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders trip to Mexico City.

So for those that wonder why he was singled out for this article as a D'Antoni guy there you go. He was a coach that could teach the Euro style which fit right into what MDA wanted his players to learn. It would seem that he has no real role with Woodson's team given the style he will emphasize.

Are guys really upset that Kenny Atkinson is leaving the Knicks? Non-story, filler for the slow summer.

Next thing you know we'll be eulogizing the ball boy or sweat sweeper because they changed career paths.

This quite interesting. your taking a "non story" and making it into a legitimate issue to which you are trying to debate.

So its not the fact Atkinson is leaving but the fact that you think debating his leaving is more important than him actually leaving.

Debating him leaving, bon voyage Kenny! Let's debate the next assistant of an assistant that takes a dump in the woods without toilet paper!

All I'm saying is, it's surprising he stuck here that long, considering he was a D'Antoni guy. I thought he would have left the second Dirty Dan and Phil Weber packed their luggage too. Consider it a blessing for him, he stuck around to see the 1st Knicks playoff victory minus MDA. Losing Kenny Atkinson is a mere footnote for August 6th, 2012, nothing more. His presence will not be missed.

ChuckBuck wrote:

Nalod wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

nixluva wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Kenny Who? Seems like a nice guy, but don't we have enough assistant coaches already? Herb's still around I think. Is that the guy that catches the rebounds of the shooters then passes it back to them? Irrelevant, we won't even hear a peep about Kenny Atkinson until we face Atlanta.

This is a pretty lame response.

He was a smart and well liked assistant coach.

The Garden continually proves itself to be a joke.

Give me a break. Assistants come and go. This guy is not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau. He will not impact us one way or not by leaving or staying. Dolan did him wrong, so be it, best of luck in ATL.

How do you know he's not the next Van Gundy or Thibodeau?

Did you think Van Gundy was gonna be good? Did you know anything about Thibodeau?

Giving away coaches you've developed is just as dumb as giving away draft picks or players you've developed.

When this team is 43-39 and an underachieving, aging 7th seed in two years and you look around and wonder where the young players are and what happened I will feel sorry for you. jk.

For real, you're really arguing the merits of an assistant coach that catches shooters rebounds???

What does this have to do with the Knicks success? I don't see the point, I really don't.

I was dying to get Tom Thibodeau, when the Knicks signed D'Antoni instead, based on Tom being the defensive architect of the Boston title team, and also because of Tom's past ties with NY. I don't think a rebound catcher had that much input into the Knicks huddle at all the past couple years.

You have to start somewhere. Identifying Coaching talent starts early too you know. Thibs wasn't always as widely known as he eventually became. You knew who Thibs was because he had gotten notoriety. You don't know that Atkinson won't also eventually get to be a hot prospect like that. He's off to a good start so far.

Further you underestimate just what Atkinson does to say that he "catches Shooters rebounds". What kind of ignorant statement is that?

Kenny was brought in because of his resume as a player development guy that knew the style that fit MDA's approach:

“I would say my formation as a coach is more from an international standpoint,” says Kenny. “That’s where I learned to coach, and there’s a big emphasis on skill work and shooting; an up-tempo and open style that’s predicated on good skills.”

Atkinson, 43, joined the Knicks staff on Aug. 6, 2008 and brought a strong background in the international game, player development and scouting to New York. The Long Island native is in his fourth overall NBA season. In 2007-08, he served as Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets.

Atkinson’s NBA career follows an overseas odyssey in which he became a student of the international game. Kenny joined the Rockets in 2007 following three years as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06). He has served as a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 through 2010. He spent the summer of 2006 as Director of Player Development/assistant coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia. In summer 2009, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders trip to Mexico City.

So for those that wonder why he was singled out for this article as a D'Antoni guy there you go. He was a coach that could teach the Euro style which fit right into what MDA wanted his players to learn. It would seem that he has no real role with Woodson's team given the style he will emphasize.

Are guys really upset that Kenny Atkinson is leaving the Knicks? Non-story, filler for the slow summer.

Next thing you know we'll be eulogizing the ball boy or sweat sweeper because they changed career paths.

This quite interesting. your taking a "non story" and making it into a legitimate issue to which you are trying to debate.

So its not the fact Atkinson is leaving but the fact that you think debating his leaving is more important than him actually leaving.

Debating him leaving, bon voyage Kenny! Let's debate the next assistant of an assistant that takes a dump in the woods without toilet paper!

All I'm saying is, it's surprising he stuck here that long, considering he was a D'Antoni guy. I thought he would have left the second Dirty Dan and Phil Weber packed their luggage too. Consider it a blessing for him, he stuck around to see the 1st Knicks playoff victory minus MDA. Losing Kenny Atkinson is a mere footnote for August 6th, 2012, nothing more. His presence will not be missed.

Seems like an organizational talent who tried to leave but Dolan would not let him.

I think when we read this guys cred and was not promoted to get on the bench because Dolan did not like him, and at the same time would not release him from his contract it speaks to what top down approach we have.

The results are all there in black and white since Dolan took over. Don't matter what anyone thinks, its the wins and losses.

So basically once Dolan had the good sense to hire Walsh, who bought in MDA and together needed two years to clean up the Isiah mess and accumulate some youth Dolan in one trade wipes out the youth momentum and over pays for a player that really does not blend in with his other superstar, and basically kicks the cane out from Walsh who leaves, then proceeds to build with a coach whose very strenth relies on a certain type PT guard, and finally when he gets the very PT guard by the grace of god instead of playing to his strenght he continues to build around a marketable star player.

Im ok with Melo and have moved on but we talking about the past and the past is our record under this shyt for brains owner.

Why is it a guy like Larry brown can have some success in San Antonio and lay the ground work for a culture of winning that lasts nearly 20 years? Greg Popovich was a "Larry Brown Guy". In that time how many coaches we grind up and spit out? An front office invironment where Dolan attacts talent by over paying them so they tolerate an evironment of supressoinion and petty rage vs. a culuture of winning where good people who are deserving of promotion are not allowed to leave? How many people have come from Dean smith-Larry Brown-Greg Popovich-Sam Presti connection?

Its never an issue for some when talent leaves because its not a Starphuck kind of thing.

So are we keeping Herb under wraps or is the guy just loyal and gets to stay on?

Good basketball people make good basketball things happen. Maybe Linsanity nevers happens with this guy? Maybe it does anyway.

we don't know. And if you don't know, then it don't matter does it?