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Nets assistant Chris Fleming, who played with Kenny Atkinson at the University of Richmond then joined him on the Nets bench, is headed to Chicago when he’ll join the Bulls coaching staff as Jim Boylen’s lead assistant.
Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.
Bulls coach Jim Boylen is hiring Nets assistant Chris Fleming to serve as his top assistant coach, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 8, 2019
Fleming was largely responsible for the Nets offense. He has head coaching experience with the German National Team and won four German League championships and was 2011 coach of the year with Brose Baskets Bamberg in 2011.
He spent the 2015-16 season on Mike Malone’s Nuggets staff and worked with the 2014 Spurs in the NBA Summer League.
Fleming is only the second of Atkinson’s original staff to leave Brooklyn, the first to join another NBA team.
According to a report by Michael Scotto last month, Atkinson’s staff recently had their contracts extended by two years.
A native of Lacey Township, NJ, Fleming has known Atkinson since their playing days together at Richmond.
This was inevitable. Terrific person. Excellent coach. Will be a HC someday. https://t.co/RET0B2RBK4
— Chris Carrino (@ChrisCarrino) May 8, 2019
Gonna miss Chris Fleming. Awesome guy. Did a terrific job in Brooklyn. On his way to being a HC. https://t.co/zk4QgTb4XD
— Ryan Ruocco (@RyanRuocco) May 8, 2019
Scotto pointed out that Fleming played a key role in the development of Rodions Kurucs.
Chris Fleming was a key factor in the development of Brooklyn Nets Rising Star selection Rodions Kurucs. The two worked closely together all season during film studies and on-court drills. https://t.co/GRZEdzgapa
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 8, 2019
The news won plaudits from a number of Nets staffers and others associated with the team.
This was inevitable. Terrific person. Excellent coach. Will be a HC someday. https://t.co/RET0B2RBK4
— Chris Carrino (@ChrisCarrino) May 8, 2019
Gonna miss Chris Fleming. Awesome guy. Did a terrific job in Brooklyn. On his way to being a HC. https://t.co/zk4QgTb4XD
— Ryan Ruocco (@RyanRuocco) May 8, 2019
No word on Fleming’s replacement but Jeff Hornacek, who the Knicks fired last April with a year left on his contract, has been helping out with the Nets offense, even travelling with the team.
Fleming is the second assistant coach to defect since the season ended. Will Weaver, who joined the Nets with Fleming in 2016 and coached the Long Island Nets this season, is headed to the Sydney Kings in the Australian NBL.
- Nets lose key assistant coach to Bulls - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Bulls are on the verge of hiring the Nets’ Chris Fleming as coach Jim Boylen’s lead assistant - K.C. Johnson - Chicago Tribune