Cleveland Cavaliers have appointed Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach, replacing J.B. Bickerstaff who was fired after five seasons. This will be Atkinson’s second NBA head coaching job after his stint with the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks.
The news of Atkinson’s appointment was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania in June 2024. It is expected that the contract will be completed soon. Atkinson previously had an opportunity to become the head coach for the Charlotte Hornets in 2022 but chose to stay with the Golden State Warriors instead.
Atkinson will bring some familiarity to Cleveland as Cavaliers players Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert both played under him in Brooklyn and had positive things to say about him. The Cavaliers recently made the playoffs for the second straight season, a milestone for the franchise since LeBron James’ departure.
With the coaching position filled, Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman can now focus on securing the future of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland. Mitchell will be eligible to sign a lucrative extension after the 2024-25 season.
