Cleveland set to hire former Warriors’ assistant coach Kenny Atkinson

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Cleveland Cavaliers finally made their decision regarding their thorough search for their next head coach after tapping the services of former Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed on June 24, 2024.

It was ESPN veteran NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski who dropped the update, adding that the franchise is set to finalize the terms and conditions regarding his contract.

Atkinson’s appointment as the newest chief tactician of the Cavaliers ended the franchise’s two-month search following the exit of J.B. Bickerstaff last May.

After another failed NBA Playoff run when the Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference semifinals, Cleveland then decided to cut ties with Bickerstaff after spending the last five seasons as their mentor.

It was Cleveland president of basketball operations Koby Altman who announced their first major off-season move on May 23, 2024.

“Decisions like these are never easy, particularly when you look back at where this franchise rebuild started under his leadership,” said Altman.

Despite a turnaround in the franchise after Bickerstaff’s arrival five years ago, the organization still pulled the trigger in terminating his contract.

Now under a different system with Atkinson leading the Cavaliers’ sideline, analysts expect a run-and-gun type of offense just like what they ran in Golden State.

Atkinson served as the assistant coach to Steve Kerr in Golden State from 2021-2024 and has helped the franchise win the 2022 NBA championship title.

Before accepting the assistant role with the Warriors, Atkinson first served as the head coach to the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020.

His stint at Brooklyn was his only head coaching job post and spent most of his NBA years as an assistant with the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Warriors.