The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly hired Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski And The Shams Charania of athletics.
Atkinson replaces JB Bickerstaff, who was fired on May 23 after five seasons.
This will be Atkinson’s second head coaching job in the NBA, after leading the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020. Prior to his time with the Nets, Atkinson was an assistant for the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks from 2008 to 2016.
ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as the franchise’s next head coach and the sides are working on a contract that is expected to be finalized soon. pic.twitter.com/x60kBtvQDQ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2024
After stepping down as Nets head coach in March 2020, Atkinson was hired by the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach in August 2021 and remained there through the 2023-2024 season.
In June 2022, Atkinson reportedly reached a deal to take over as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, but decided against the decision to remain with the Warriors.
There will be some notoriety in Cleveland for Atkinson. Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen and guard Caris LeVert both played for him in Brooklyn and reportedly praised him when teammates asked him to.
The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the second straight season, losing to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It was also the first time since 1993 that the franchise won a playoff series without LeBron James.
With the coaching situation settled, Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman can focus on securing Donovan Mitchell’s future in Cleveland. The five-time All-Star guard will be eligible for a five-year, maximum $269.9 million extension when he becomes a free agent after the 2024-25 season.
