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Kenny Atkinson dedicated the majority of his playing career to European basketball before transitioning into coaching and later guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA-best record, turning them into strong contenders for the championship.
During a recent media session at the All-Star Game, he advocated for the significance of a global basketball landscape, the necessity of mandatory FIBA windows, and shared his enthusiasm for the potential of expanding into Europe.
In an interview aired by Greek NBA rights holder COSMOTE TV, Atkinson expressed admiration for European coaches he has collaborated with, such as Gordon Herbert and Ilias Zouros, as well as noteworthy players like the Gasol brothers, Nicolas Batum, and legends like Nikos Galis, Zarko Paspalj, and current EuroLeague CEO Dejan Bodiroga. He remarked, “If he were 25 today, he’d undoubtedly be an NBA All-Star,” while also addressing various topics related to FIBA and European expansion.
“I long for the day when Athens, Madrid, and Paris will each have an NBA team,” declared Atkinson. “I’ve shared with my wife my hope to continue working for one of these franchises for a few more years. Whether as a coach or in some other capacity, I wish to contribute. The NBA is an incredible product and a dynamic market, but I really believe… I hope I don’t get into hot water for saying this, but I think it should establish a foothold in Europe. I’ve heard that Adam Silver is having initial talks about expanding, and I think we need the Concordes back. A two-hour flight would make a big difference. David Stern was a major proponent of this idea. I hope Adam would want that to be part of his legacy. Having two teams in Europe is a vision I hold dear, and I sincerely hope it comes to fruition.”
Atkinson, who also served as an assistant for the French national team in Paris, strongly supports the idea of mandatory FIBA windows, even suggesting that it should apply to NBA players as well: “I would advocate for making it compulsory, as participation in FIBA games helps players to develop. We’ve witnessed this in American players, as well as with the esteemed French athletes and the great Spanish players, like the Gasols. FIBA basketball enhances skill levels. I would really endorse expanding the number of windows and making participation mandatory. Isn’t that what they do in football? When everything comes to a halt, you are required to attend national team duties, and abstaining is frowned upon. It circles back to player development; international experience and FIBA competition are essential for improvement.”
This is why Atkinson favors harmonizing the rules, advocating for the NBA to adopt FIBA’s goaltending regulations, eliminate the defensive three-second rule, and possibly introduce 40-minute games: “When the ball is at the rim, you ought to be allowed to play it. That’s crucial. Adam Silver has indicated that this change could happen, so I’m uncertain why it hasn’t been implemented yet. I would also like to see the defensive three-second rule removed, just as it is in FIBA. We need uniformity in the rules across FIBA and the NBA. This alignment would enhance the product, benefiting fans who wouldn’t need to adjust their understanding between FIBA and NBA games. Uniform rules would elevate international play. I’m pleased to see Adam (Silver) advocating for this, yes. That’s just my perspective, but we need to revisit the idea of establishing unified rules.”
Atkinson cited the recent Olympic tournament as a relevant instance: “The global perception of the sport would improve if we were all aligned; the quality of the game would be better. As we observed during the Olympics, especially in the France-USA matchup, I received an influx of messages expressing, ‘This is the finest basketball I’ve ever experienced.’ Watching teams like Brazil and Japan, where we nearly faced defeat… It’s a 40-minute game, and every possession is critical. I even reached out to Adam (Silver) to say, ‘Adam, I’m thrilled about your openness to pursuing such changes.’”
