The Cleveland Cavaliers have recently appointed Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach. This news was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Atkinson will replace J.B. Bickerstaff, who was let go after five seasons with the team.
Atkinson has previously held a head coaching job with the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020, and prior to that he served as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks from 2008 to 2016. In August 2021, he joined the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach and stayed with the team until the end of the 2023-24 season. Despite rumors of him possibly becoming the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets in 2022, he ultimately decided to stay with the Warriors.
The Cavaliers are excited about their new coaching hire, as they will find some familiar faces on their roster. Both center Jarrett Allen and guard Caris LeVert played under Atkinson during his time with the Nets. The team has been doing well lately, making it to the playoffs for two consecutive seasons and reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals before being eliminated by the Boston Celtics. This marked a significant milestone for the Cavaliers, as they won a playoff series without LeBron James since 1993.
Now that their coaching situation has been resolved, Koby Altman can shift his focus towards securing All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell’s future with the team. Mitchell is eligible for a significant contract extension after the 2024-
