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NY Knicks: 3 reasons why Kenny Atkinson should be the next head coach

By Allen Settle

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets looks on from the bench against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 24, 2019 in New York City.Brooklyn Nets defeated the New York Knicks 103-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets looks on from the bench against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 24, 2019 in New York City.Brooklyn Nets defeated the New York Knicks 103-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Kenny Atkinson, Kyrie Irving. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) – New York Knicks
Kenny Atkinson, Kyrie Irving. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

How quickly things change in the NBA! Just one year ago the New York Knicks were confident they had finally turned a corner.

The franchise was headed toward its first postseason appearance since the Carmelo Anthony era (with homecourt advantage in the first round no less). Julius Randle was an All-Star and future Most Improved Player of the Year. And the team’s young core was developing well.

It appeared that the Knicks had finally found a solution to the coaching carrousel that saw 15 different head coaches represent New York since the turn of the decade. That amount of coaches in 22 years is unreasonable. Yet, it appears the hope of stability will have to wait.

Fast forward to 2022, and all of the long-overdue momentum has dissipated. Not only did the Knicks fail to earn a second playoff berth outright, but the 37-win squad even failed to miss the play-in tournament.

Kenny Atkinson should be the next head coach of the New York Knicks.

This epic collapse has caused coach Tom Thibodeau to fall from franchise savior to resident on the hot seat. If this is indeed the end, Thibodeau did exactly what many thought he would.

For a season, he transformed the defense and instilled a winning expectation in New York. Yet, like many other stops along the way, he failed to develop younger talent, rubbed players the wrong way, and eventually saw his tenure peter out.

As the Knicks consider the future at their head coaching position, I would like to firmly submit one name for serious consideration: Kenny Atkinson. In fact, I recommend parting ways with Thibodeau in favor of this former NYC star for the following three reasons…

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