Hornets starting HC interviews; candidates include Mike D'Antoni, Kenny Atkinson
The Charlotte Hornets have not made it to the NBA playoffs in six years. The franchise's postseason drought pales in comparison to that of the Sacramento Kings -- another organization currently looking for a new head coach -- but when fans look at success once their team reaches the playoffs, Charlotte's dubious streak of making it out of the first round of the postseason extends to 20 years.
Charlotte's last time making it to the Eastern Conference semifinals was one season before their 10-year run as the Bobcats and when current star LaMelo Ball wasn't even a toddler. Principal owner and chairman of the Hornets Michael Jordan had just wrapped up his penultimate season as a player 20 years ago.
Now, Charlotte is reportedly starting their round of interviews in search of their next head coach.
Among the reported candidates, Atkinson and D'Antoni are the only two with previous head-coaching experience, though both Ham and Sweeney have held assistant gigs.
Atkinson was an assistant with the New York Knicks from 2008 to 2012, Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2016 and spent the last two seasons on the bench with Ty Lue's Los Angeles Clippers and Steve Kerr's Golden State Warriors respectively. During his four seasons at the helm of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020, he compiled a 118-190 record in the regular season and 1-4 mark in the postseason.
During his extensive NBA coaching career, D'Antoni has worked with five different franchises -- most recently as an assistant with the Nets in 2020-2021 -- and has captured two Coach of the Year awards. The 70-year-old has a 672-527 career record in the regular season and a 54-56 mark in the playoffs.
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