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Brooklyn Nets hire Kenny Atkinson as head coach

The Brooklyn nets have hired Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach.
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The Brooklyn nets have hired Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach, the team announced Sunday. 

Atkinson is currently an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, working under Mike Budenholzer. He has held that position the past four seasons, and was a member of the New York Knicks coaching staff from 2008 to ‘12.

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He will finish the playoffs with the Hawks before assuming his new role with Brooklyn.

“We are thrilled to announce Kenny Atkinson as our new head coach and to welcome him and his family to Brooklyn,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “Kenny’s years of NBA coaching experience working under successful head coaches such as Mike Budenholzer and Mike D’Antoni have provided him with the foundation and experience we were looking for in a head coach. We believe that Kenny’s core principles, leadership,communication skills and exceptional background in player development make him an ideal fit for the culture we are building in Brooklyn.”

The terms of his contract have not yet been released. 

The Nets fired Lionel Hollins in July as the team struggled through a disappointing season. Brooklyn (21–61) finished 14th in the Eastern Conference standings, only better than the Philadelphia 76ers