Former Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni was not chosen to be the next head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The job was reportedly down to Atkinson and D'Antoni, as both met with Hornets owner Michael Jordan this week prior to the decision. Atkinson becomes the second Golden State assistant to accept a head coaching position behind Mike Brown, who took the Sacramento job.
D'Antoni, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year recipient, last was at the helm of the Houston Rockets from 2016-20. He spent the 2020-21 season as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets.
For now, it appears as if he'll have to wait another season for his opportunity.
Through his 16 seasons across the league as a head coach, most fans remember D'Antoni from his days with Phoenix from 2002-08 with his "seven seconds or less" offense that saw the likes of Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire thrive. Consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Finals in 2005/2006 marked the high point of D'Antoni's tenure before he moved on to the New York Knicks in 2008.
D'Antoni has an overall record of 672-527 (.560) as a head coach.
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