“Kerr waited 25 years to exact revenge for that practice dust-up”, “His boss knows MJ can’t manage a team out of a paper bag” - Fans troll Michael Jordan as Kenny Atkinson rejects Hornets
Michael Jordan was all set to welcome Kenny Atkinson as the Charlotte Hornets' new head coach. Unfortunately, Atkinson reportedly pulled out of the deal, following which fans mercilessly trolled Jordan.
The news of Atkinson's refusal to leave his assistant coach position with the Golden State Warriors was broken by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The NBA insider, via his Twitter page, reported that Atkinson feels it would be in his best interests to remain with the 2022 champions.
ESPN Sources: Kenny Atkinson has decided he won’t become the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach and will remain with Golden State as top assistant. After being offered job during the NBA Finals, further conversations led Atkinson to believe it would be best to remain with Warriors.
This means the Hornets are back in the market for a replacement for James Borrego. The organization fired Borrego in April after he failed to lead the team to the playoffs for the second straight year.
Fans did not hesitate to poke fun at the Hornets and their owner Michael Jordan.
@RexChapman @wojespn Kerr waited 25 years to exact revenge on MJ for that practice dust-up in Chicago.
@wojespn @WorldWideWob 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
So what you're saying is that the Warriors matched the Hornet's offer & MJ cheaped out...? 🧐🤔😂
"believes its best to stay" = 💰💰💰💰💰💰
@wojespn If they would've lost, he would be gone. Besides Kerr his boss knows MJ can't manage a team out of a paper bag. He definitely influenced the call.
@wojespn Don’t want to say Michael Jordan is cheap, but… https://t.co/U5Mk428Eue
@wojespn Michael Jordan calling Kenny Atkinson back on the phone https://t.co/HanHSUnjh1
@SoCal365Hoops My point is, we’ve had that energy in that narrative towards how bad Michael Jordan in the Hornets are. You’re just ignoring it. It’s like you’ve been asleep for 15 years. Everybody drags Michael Jordan and Charlotte. Time for you to wake up
@wojespn When ever a Coach decides not to take the Lakers Head Coaching Job the narrative is the front office is a disaster. I’m sure it want be the same energy with Jordan and the Hornets.
@wojespn He pulled the reverse uno card on Charlotte. I’m offended af
@wojespn 🤣🤣
Another Michael Jordan ownership fail, though this was something he clearly didn’t expect. twitter.com/wojespn/status…
@wojespn Man, that is really shitty. You interview for a job, you then get offered and accept the job and then rescind it. 🙄
@wojespn kenny atkinson thoroughly looked at this roster and was like this shit too “urban” for me
@wojespn Man thought about Montrezl Harrell and was like https://t.co/UoHIJGxzvY
@wojespn Not sure why everyone’s hating on Charlotte. Obviously Kerr told him that he’s resigning this off-season or next and the front office told Kenny that it’s his job when Steve leaves. 🤷♂️
@BillUfreitz @wojespn that's my take as well, Kerr gunna run for Prez 2024!
j/k. But he'd win
Atkinson has served as a head coach in the past but has not had much success. He led the 2019 Brooklyn Nets to the playoffs, but was eliminated in the first round.
The Atlanta Hawks win the first leg of the Play-In Tournament over the Charlotte Hornets, 132-103.
They will travel to Cleveland for another elimination game Friday to reach the playoffs as an 8-seed.
Atkinson's arrival would have been a big boost for the Hornets as he would have brought with him championship-winning mentality.
Michael Jordan has not had much success as an executive
The road to a championship for Jordan as owner of the Hornets has gotten tougher with each passing year. While the Hornets have put together an exciting young roster, they have yet to achieve any real success.
In the 12 years since Jordan took over as owner, the Hornets have struggled. Their 2011-12 season was their worst in league history as they finished with a 7-59 (.106) win-loss record.
Their playoff drought is also one of the worst in the 21st century. Since 2003, they have only reached the postseason three times, losing in the first round on each occasion.
As a player, Jordan carried the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in eight years. Sadly, he has failed to replicate those feats as an executive.
Nonetheless, things are looking up for the Hornets as they have put together a young core of incredible talent. With the right coach, they take the next step and become a force in the Eastern Conference.