Kenny Atkinson is appointed head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired experienced NBA assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, who formerly served as head coach, a source with knowledge of the hiring told USA TODAY Sports.
The individual asked to remain anonymous since he wasn’t allowed to talk in public until the Cavaliers made a formal statement.
Atkinson, 57, is well-known for his player development initiatives and Xs and Os knowledge. He inherits a club that placed fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record. After defeating Orlando in the opening round, the Cavaliers fell short against the Celtics in the second round.
In 2016, the Brooklyn Nets signed Atkinson, a former assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, as their head coach. He had a 118-190 record in four seasons with Brooklyn, but his Nets teams were getting better. But the Nets took a different turn after acquiring James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant, and the two teams split up in March 2020.
He’s been a finalist for other jobs since, and he grew as a coach working with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, his staff and the players. Atkinson then spent a season with the Los Angeles Clippers and has been on Kerr’s staff with Golden State since the start of the 2021 season.
When Golden State defeated Boston in the NBA Finals in 2022, he turned down the chance to coach the Charlotte Hornets.
In addition to trying to extend the contract of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers must make a number of roster decisions. Mitchell’s contract is still good for two years, following which he can sign a free agency after the 2024–2025 campaign.
