Hawks Target Knicks Assistant Kenny Atkinson

Kenny Atkinson, the only member of Mike D'Antoni's staff to remain with the team after Mike Woodson took over as head coach, is close to joining Larry Drew's staff in Atlanta, according to New York Daily News writer Frank Isola. Atkinson is credited by Jeremy Lin for contributing to his development before and after he became a starter. Isola's story includes this quote from Lin about Atkinson:

“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."

Atkinson was not a favorite of Knicks owner Jim Dolan, who according to Isola wanted him fired at one point then blocked his attempt to move to Portland's staff. However, Atkinson is considered a prospect for a future head coaching position.