Shortly after the announced mutual separations of the Brooklyn Nets and head coach Kenny Atkinson, rumors have started flying that key players in the team caused the departure. It was reported Kyrie Irving soured on Atkinson and that both Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan supported an initiative by Irving to oust the bench tactician.
Jordan said it's unfair to say that Atkinson was eased out, and he and his friends that would be KD and Irving were the chief instigators of the club decision. The big man was reacting to allegations that newcomers have been throwing their weight and pushed for the firing of the head coach.
Bleacher Report said Jordan made clear Atkinson's exit was a decision arrived at with the consensus of the players and management. He hinted each of the Nets family members made their sentiments known before the decision was made.
"Yeah, I'm close to Kyrie, but Wilson [Chandler] is a new player, Garrett Temple's a new player. We're all new players, so if you're going to say, new players, put it on all eight of the new players," the Brooklyn center was reported as saying.
Jordan maintained the Nets made a call on the matter, and everyone participated. There was no monopoly at all, meaning Atkinson is no longer with the team and not because Irving and Durant or the three of them wanted to make it happen.
CBS Sports said the team decided to sit down following the blowout loss to the Grizzlies last week and everyone opened up. Right there, it was established that there was a growing disenchantment on the way Atkinson runs things.
"The players did not shy away from critiquing Atkinson, expressing to the coach that they wanted him to identify roles better, communicate the team's hierarchy better, change what needs fixing and not settle for the status quo," the report said, citing the story published by The Athletic.
It was clear there was a breakdown in communication. For instance, Jordan was made to believe he is part of the starting five, but the gameplay designed by Atkinson made Jaret Allen the starting center.
It was discussed as well that both Irving and KD failed to connect with the former coach, and most of the players got the understanding that the way they play will not click with the tactics laid out by Atkinson.
Per the same report: "It summed up [the postgame meeting] the growing displeasure with Atkinson's communication levels."
In the end, Clutch Points said the Nets core players expressed dissatisfaction with the coach, but the club made clear the decision to let go of Atkinson was made by the leadership and not at the behest of Irving, Durant, and Jordan.
Notably, though, when Jacque Vaughn took over from Atkinson, among the first action made by the OIC is to make adjustments on the first unit. That is correct, Jordan now starts for the Nets.
