Today’s Brooklyn Nets news features head coach Kenny Atkinson in Jets land, and some quotes from him on Allen Crabbe’s undefined role.
The Brooklyn Nets head coach was spotted at the New York Jets game early Sunday afternoon. They lost 24-17 to the New England Patriots, but gave Atkinson a shoutout via the team’s Twitter page.
It’s no surprise Atkinson visited the Jets, who have been New York’s most exciting of three football teams.
Now 3-3, they have proven better than expected in a season most considered tanking.
Elsewhere in Nets land, the role of newcomer Allen Crabbe is yet to be defined. As the highest paid player, it’s hard to think Brooklyn would bring him off the bench.
Head coach Atkinson told Brian Lewis of the New York Post that Crabbe’s role is yet to be cemented.
“It’s still to be determined. Still have to look at everything. [We’ll] look at his progression.”
Nothing is permanent, but Atkinson is a fan of his preseason starting five. That’s Jeremy Lin, D’Angelo Russell, DeMarre Carroll, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Timofey Mozgov.
” I do like how that group played together, that starting five. But nothing is set in stone yet.”
For Crabbe, starting is obviously the goal, but he’ll accept playing to the team’s needs.
“I feel like that’s what everybody’s goal should be as a player. My job is to just go out there whenever I’m on the court, play good basketball, play team basketball, make plays and make winning plays.”
Atkinson admitted that Crabbe isn’t the only player who will be considered for a starting spot.
“I think we have a fair amount of new players. I think we have to look at everything. He’s not the only one. It could be everybody or it could be nobody. That’s just the way it is.”
The Brooklyn Nets will open their season on Wednesday, October 18th away against the Indiana Pacers. Opening tip is at 7:00 PM EST.