Pistons coach John Kuester has said several times that veteran backup point guard Chucky Atkins could be a coach one day.

But Atkins, 35, said before Friday night’s game against the Nets that he isn’t ready to start holding a clipboard. He thinks he has something left to offer a team after two injury-marred seasons.

“Coaching is something I never really thought about,” he said. “I think that’s mostly put on me, so I don’t really know if I want to go into coaching or not. If the right situation arises, then I think I would do it, but right now I still think I can play a couple of more years.”

Entering this season, Atkins signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Pistons and was just hoping to catch on after being stricken with various leg injuries in previous seasons. He says he’s surprised that he feels he can keep playing.

“I didn’t know if I could play again,” Atkins said. “I was given the opportunity by Kuester and Joe Dumars to come in and see what I could do.”

He has played little this season, but Atkins was encouraged by a stretch when he filled in admirably because of injuries. That makes him think he can still play.

“I feel like I can be a nice, quality backup with maybe 15 minutes per game for the next two seasons, if the situation presents itself,” Atkins said.