A blunt, direct player development coach who gets the most out of his team.
Brooklyn is hoping Jordi Fernandez is that.
But they knew Kenny Atkinson was that.
And on Saturday, they’ll have a reunion with the coach they dumped, now head coach of the undefeated Cavaliers.
Atkinson — the Long Island native who coached the Nets for parts of four seasons from 2016-2020 — is in his first head-coaching job since and guiding the NBA’s hottest team, the league’s only unbeaten at 10-0.
He’s reminding everybody that the Nets dumped what they’re hoping Fernandez can become.
Yes, technically Atkinson stepped down.
But it was mostly like catching your step after being pushed from behind.
The 57-year-old Huntington native knew his time in Brooklyn was up and decided to go out on his own terms.
It’s been reported that after Atkinson called a postgame team meeting in 2019-20, Kevin Durant — who spent that entire season rehabbing a ruptured Achilles — spent the meeting ripping the state of the team.
Atkinson hadn’t yet built any bond with Kyrie Irving since the star was in and out of the lineup with injuries.
The writing wasn’t just on the wall. It was in glowing spray paint.
So Brooklyn parted ways with Atkinson.
The latter spent the next season as Ty Lue’s assistant with the Clippers and the next three under Steve Kerr in Golden State.
He got his first NBA championship ring in 2022 but also got something else from working with Steph Curry and Kawhi Leonard: more experience with contending teams and All-Star players.
Now Atkinson has both in Cleveland, reunited not just with former Nets Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen, but also Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
“It’s dope. He’s the first coach I had. He’s a great coach, great person. He believed in me,” Nic Claxton, who’d been a rookie in Atkinson’s final year in Brooklyn, told The Post before the Nets’ 108-104 overtime loss to the Celtics on Friday night in Boston. “I’m happy for him having a lot of guys that were here. Now they’re in Cleveland, coaches, players, so I’m happy for him, and it’ll be fun to compete against him.”
Atkinson also has former Nets forward DeMarre Carroll on the staff, along with Jordan Ott (who had been with him in Brooklyn) and Trevor Hendry (who had been a video assistant). Patrick Licursi is an advance scout after having the same role in Brooklyn.
“He’s back where he’s supposed to be as a head coach, so it’s good to see,” Claxton said. “He’s a great coach, extremely smart, works hard. He’s a great coach.”
The Nets started Claxton at center during Friday’s loss, with Ben Simmons coming off the bench. … Jaylen Brown (left hip flexor strain) and Luke Kornet (right hamstring tightness) and Kristaps Porzingis (offseason surgery) were out for Boston.
Noah Clowney was available after being listed as questionable with an illness.
But Bojan Bogdanovicć (left foot injury recovery), Day’Ron Sharpe (left hamstring strain) and Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain) were out.