Report: Atkinson won't be on Warriors bench after leg injury

Warriors bench coach Kenny Atkinson won't be on the bench for the foreseeable future.

The Athletic's Anthony Slater reported Friday, citing sources, that Atkinson suffered a leg injury during a recent workout and will not be courtside as it heals.

Atkinson, who spent three years as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, joined the Warriors staff in July to replace the departed Jarron Collins at the head of the bench.

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Atkinson is a basketball junkie who has worked alongside the likes of Mike D'Antoni, Tyronn Lue and Mike Budenholzer and is seen as one of the best developers of young talent in the NBA. 

With the Warriors recently drafting James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, bringing Atkinson on board was a no-brainer move for Kerr.

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Having previous head-coaching experience also is a bonus as Atkinson knows what Kerr is going through, isn't afraid to speak his mind and can offer valuable advice.

“He has great energy and is sort of a contrarian, an outside-of-the-box thinker, which I really like,” Kerr said of Atkinson prior to the season. “And I love that he comes in here with head coaching experience. He knows what I’m going through each day because he’s been there and can give me great advice.”

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