🚨 BREAKING! 🚨 Stephen A.’s VERDICT on Cavs hiring Kenny Atkinson | First Take
breaking news W just tweeted that the Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Kenny ainson as the franchise’s next head coach and sides are working on a contract that’s expected to be completed soon he was most recently the Warriors assistant coach Stephen A your reaction to the ainson hiring two forms of theory here number one first of all I’m happy for him he deserves this opportunity he’s an outstanding basketball mind uh for anybody in the NBA that covers the NBA they will tell you that’s what they hear about him religiously obviously the last three years he’s been in Golden State helped to win a deliver a title a couple of years back um he was a coach head coach for four years in Brooklyn um and then he got pushed out of there because the Stars Kevin Durant and and Kyrie Irving didn’t necessarily go to bat for him uh which some people understood because he had only won 38% of his games 118 and 190 if I remember correctly and only had one winning season in four years uh but nevertheless to replace him with Steve Nash who had no coaching experience whatsoever just didn’t seem like a good thing for Brooklyn to do uh so for him getting another opportunity Shannon I’m totally good with it all I’m saying is this for everybody out there that says it’s a great great thing for him to get this bite at the Apple I will remind everybody that there’s a guy by the name of Sam Cassell who is a champion as a player and has been an assistant coach for 15 years and I don’t hear anybody screaming that he deserves a chance let’s be fair here Kenny ainson I’m happy for him he deserves the opportunity I wish him nothing but the best but let’s also make sure that we point out guys like Sam Cassel who’ve been wanting the opportunity for many many years and have yet to get one absolutely Fair Point Stephen A [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] f
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith reacts to Adrian Wojnarowski’s news that the Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach.
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42 Comments
Here we go
Why they even fire the bickerstaff
He should have been never been fired from Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving & Kevin Durant screwed kenny over.
Kenny Atkinson deserved another chance cause they railroaded him in Brooklyn
Where are all of Stephen A's "angry black coaches" now? Donovan Mitchell leveraged his contract extension to get Bickerstaff fired, yet I don't feel the same energy being directed at Mitchell from Stephen A.
This dude. every time there’s a white coach hiring. Always bring up race. This dude is a 🤡.
Everytime he gives a complement to a white man Stephen A has to mention a black guy and insinuate they deserved it more
Everytime there is a white coach… "He's great and all, BUT……" – SA
Darwin Ham was black and that was the trashiest coach ever & look at Detroit Pistons if we bringing up race, dude sucked and got booted, ya'll aint gold mines, let others shine.
How many rings did Cassell being an assistant got? And Stephen A said about Nash not being a coach now you push Cassell to be one vs Atkinson who was a previous coach in Brooklyn 😛 true colors show that you are a racist dyem
what if Sam Cassell is fine with being an assistant head coach though, Stephen A? He was an assistant on both the 76ers and Clippers more recently behind Doc Rivers who was fired from both teams. I'm sure he's had plenty of opportunities to be promoted to HC over the years and was fine staying put. Not everything's a conspiracy or agenda smh
Steven A went on a rant because Gotlieb called him a race Baiter . Once again he is race baiting .
does Sam Cassell even interview for head coaching jobs?
Like just congratulate the man. Stop bringing other folks' name who are black to diminish what happen. Can't wait for this clown to retire
I knew SAS would bring up race before I even watched the video
Brad Stevens was also got GM job because he was white then got KP & Jrue Holiday by luck too right? Remember Stephen A said that was because Brad was white? Who got NBA rings now?
Stephen A is the most racist guy on ESPN.
At this point Stephen A. does more harm for black candidates than help because he never speaks on their basketball acumen only their skin color
Kenny Atkinson was a great coach in Brooklyn. In the years before kyrie, His teams always played with great effort and were analytically sound in terms of shooting a lot of 3s and defending the 3 extremely well despite being overmatched from a talent standpoint most nights
Can we get a week of you not making everything racial! You are so annoying!
Did Stephen A bring this up when JJ got the job?
I clicked on this video solely to see if Stephen will bring race into this. He didn't disappoint.
Stephen A. I get it bruh. But they just fired a black coach. They probably wanted a more experienced guy who system fits there team. They have 2 dynamic guards. Sam needs the Detroit job. Those young guys buy in more.
This is a good move
Thumbnail says “Stephe A” fix it @ESPN
SAS is racist
Hands up if you expected to hear Stephen A say the name "Mark Jackson" yet again, instead of Sam Cassell 😀 (For the record, I agree with him that Cassell should get an opportunity to coach in the NBA. Man has paid his dues and then some)
Sam Cassell was with Doc Rivers for too long without winning
He is no longer allowed to bring up race cause he didn't do it with jj redick so foh
Go screw yourself Stephen A . I’m white and sick of this bs about race. I could care less who’s black and white. But pulling the race card is ruining society!!
Cavaliers hire Kenny Atkinson good choice
Why didn't he say anything about Race when JJ got hired tho?? What is the agendas
The Cleveland Cavs owner is racist. He wanted to hire a white coach just like the New York Knicks what Cleveland Cavs need is a NBA player who actually play the game and who is actually an expertise in offensive system and defense. Because we all know this coach has not won a ring and he sucks
What's wrong with being a career assistant coach? It's a respectable job. There used to be so many of them and no one used to always talk about them "deserving" a head coaching opportunity.
🥱
So sick and tired of SAS race agenda with the coaching hires trying to shove it down people's throats. If the person being hired is qualified, that should really be enough.
He should have been fired from the Brooklyn Nets
someone who hangs out with sean hannity on the regular shouldn’t try to speak for an entire community. SAS is an opportunist, to put it mildly
Is it because Sam Cassell’s name is mentioned here that any team president or owner will take a deeper look? These guys have agents to lobby more effectively for them. It’s sounding as something done for the record, to be able to turn around at anytime to claim how much one has supported a certain community. If I was Sam Cassell or any other black coach, I’d hate to have my name brought up every time a white coach is hired.
Never heard this when doc rivers get a job 😂😂😂😂
A is not happy because of the color
They hired WHO?!?! No Mark Jackson, Adrian Griffin or Sam Cassell?!?!? C'mon. It's obvious WHY that fella was hired SMH 🙄
Life long cavaliers fan and id rather have an actual COACH than a former role player with NO experience aka jj reddick – would have liked a sam cassell over kenny but still kenny will do way better than bickerstaff
There's no need to bring Sam Cassell in this convo he ain't leaving Boston. Also we're tired of this constant race baitin