The Warriors are in danger of losing another assistant, again.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Warriors associate head coach Kenny Atkinson will interview for the Houston Rockets head coaching position.
It’s an interesting situation for Atkinson, who nearly became head coach of the Charlotte Hornets a year ago.
That situation fell through, according to reports and Steve Kerr, for a few reasons. The Hornets reportedly did not offer to pay Atkinson’s assistants well and because he has enjoyed living in the Bay Area.
“We’re in a great place. We’ve got great players. We live in a beautiful part of the country,” Kerr said during the Warriors championship parade. “Kenny’s got two kids, you know, teenagers who really wanted to stay, and I think that’s a really difficult thing to try to take a job in the middle of the Finals without really getting a chance to unwind.
“And I think over the course of the Finals, he just felt like, ‘You know what, this is not the best time for my family and me to leave.’ So I’m glad that Kenny trusted his gut, and hopefully Charlotte ends up with a great coach and everybody moves forward.”
It’s an interesting proposition for Atkinson, who’d be taking over a very young Houston Rockets team.
Golden State lost Willie Green to the Pelicans top job two years ago and MIke Brown to the Kings job last year. It would be the third-straight year they’d have lost an assistant coach to a head coaching position if Atkinson leaves.