The Warriors reportedly have promoted from within their organization to fill the void left by Mike Brown, who has moved on to become the head coach of the Sacramento Kings.
After accepting the head-coaching gig with the Charlotte Hornets in June and ultimately declining it 10 days later, Kenny Atkinson has been promoted to Steve Kerr’s associate head coach, a title Brown held the past six seasons. Former player-development coach Jama Mahlalela has been promoted to an assistant coach role. The moves were first reported by Anthony Slater of The Athletic on Thursday morning.
Atkinson, 55, would have moved to his fourth organization in four seasons if he took the Charlotte job, but clearly doesn’t mind coaching for the reigning champs. Atkinson previously served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-20, before spending 2020-21 with the Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant and joining the Warriors before the 2021-22 campaign. He is renowned for his high-energy coaching style, ability to relate with players and analytics background.
Mahlalela, 42, will bring another energetic coach to the front of the Warriors bench for games during the regular season. For now, he is tasked with coaching the Summer League Warriors, which could provide some key growth opportunities for players like James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
Brown took on something of a defensive coordinator role during the last season, so that’s one key area where the Warriors coaching staff will have to adapt. Though it looked like the Warriors could have had some big changes to the staff this offseason, and Brown’s absence will certainly be felt in the coaches’ meetings, Kerr’s crew will be largely the same in 2022-23.