Cavaliers hire Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as next coach, AP source says

TOM WITHERS, Associated Press

18 minutes ago

FILE – Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson watches during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 25, 2023, in Denver. The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new coach, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new coach, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

The Cavs are looking for a new leader for their young team after firing JB Bickerstaff last month despite back-to-back playoff appearances.

The sides have agreed to a deal with details of Atkinson’s contract still to be finalized, the person said.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not publicly discuss its search.

ESPN.com was the first to report that Atkinson was headed to Cleveland.

Atkinson’s hiring ends an extensive search by the Cavs’ front office. Atkinson was one of at least six known candidates for an interview with the team since Bickerstaff’s firing on May 23 – a week after Cleveland was eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.

The 57-year-old Atkinson checked all the boxes of what the Cavs were looking for: head coaching experience, offensive-minded and a strong reputation for player development.

Atkinson went 118-190 in his three-plus seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, overseeing their rise from the lower tier of the Eastern Conference to a playoff berth in 2019. He appeared ready for an extended stint with Brooklyn after the addition of superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but had a surprising break from the franchise in 2020.

Atkinson’s retirement was confusing given the growth of the team under his leadership. After leaving, he spent a season on the staff of the Los Angeles Clippers before moving to Golden State, where he was coach Steve Kerr’s top assistant.

With the Warriors, Atkinson was exposed to one of the league’s best offensive players in Stephen Curry and immersed himself in a dynamic offensive system that he will certainly borrow from in Cleveland.

Atkinson has some connections to the Cavs after working with center Jarrett Allen and forward Caris LeVert in Brooklyn.

Hiring a new coach was the first priority in a pivotal summer for the Cavs. The next step is to get All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to accept a long-term contract extension, enter the NBA draft and perhaps retool the roster with trades.

After the Cavs were eliminated from the playoffs, president of basketball operations Koby Altman said the team needed a coach who could bring new ideas and a fresh approach to get the most out of the team’s core – Mitchell, Allen , guard Darius Garland and forward Evan Mobley.

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