Mike D'Antoni will meet with Michael Jordan about taking over the Hornets / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP – Scanpix Credit AP – Scanpix

Since Kenny Atkinson finally refused to commit for four years with the Hornets, stating family reasons, the franchise should find a plan B.

2-pointers this season

54%28,7Points made:28,7Accuracy:54,0%Place in standings:12Record max:37Record min:21Most made 2FGs:Miles BridgesTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

Kenny Atkinson decided to return to Golden State as an assistant after agreeing to be the next head coach of the Hornets. However, according to ESPN, there is no need to start from scratch since Michael Jordan will meet with Mike D' Antoni. The former Suns, Knicks, Lakers and Rockets coach was already a finalist for the job, and he now has no competition after Atkinson's withdrawal.

D'Antoni’s coaching usually leads players to have career years, so this would be excellent news for players like LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.

It would obviously be a more than surprising choice on the part of the Hornets since D'Antoni is anything but a defensive specialist, even in practice. But, at 71, D'Antoni has the support of GM Mitch Kupchak, his former Lakers GM, and the idea would be to apply his ideas to a roster that focuses mainly on the offensive end.

If D'Antoni is hired, it would mark his sixth stint as an NBA head coach. He has a career record of 672-527 across 16 seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.

D'Antoni won NBA Coach of the Year twice, with the Suns in 2005 and the Rockets in 2017. He spent 2020-21 as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets and last season as a coaching advisor for the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Hornets parted ways with coach James Borrego in April after four seasons, and less than a year after giving him a multi-year extension. The team finished 43-39 in 2021-22 and reached the NBA's play-in tournament for the second straight season.

Thank you for reading us! We have even more content for you.