The Sacramento Kings faced off against the Golden State Warriors in the SoFi Play-In Tournament. In recent news, Kenny Atkinson has been hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, following his successful stint building a culture in Brooklyn that attracted top players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The hiring was one of Cleveland’s key offseason priorities, alongside securing a contract extension for Donovan Mitchell.
Atkinson’s signing was viewed as a way to entice Mitchell to stay in Cleveland. Reports confirmed that the team is set to offer Mitchell a four-year, $209 million maximum contract. Atkinson was chosen over other finalists, including Pelicans’ assistant James Borrego, due to his strong player development program in Brooklyn and his offensive schemes that emphasize player and ball movement.
Mitchell and other team members were looking for a head coach who could bring these same principles to Cleveland and help elevate Evan Mobley’s game. Atkinson is expected to do just that, using his experience and expertise to build on the success of the Cavaliers under former coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff led the team to two consecutive No. 4 seed finishes in the East and even made it to the playoffs this past season, but Atkinson will be tasked with keeping things moving forward while also bringing new ideas and strategies to the table.
