{"id":82633,"date":"2024-06-24T10:59:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T14:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=82633"},"modified":"2024-06-24T10:59:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T14:59:01","slug":"cavaliers-hire-warriors-assistant-as-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/06\/24\/cavaliers-hire-warriors-assistant-as-head-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Cavaliers Hire Warriors Assistant as Head Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced <\/span><a  style=\"font-weight: 400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/coaches\/atkinke01c.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kenny Atkinson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as their 24th head coach in franchise history, per <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/wojespn? s=21&amp;t=Z1cxrkK01EXOm5bI4zk-Tw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adrian Wojnarowski<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as the franchise\u2019s next head coach and sides are working on a contract that\u2019s expected to be completed soon. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/x60kBtvQDQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/x60kBtvQDQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn\/status\/1805243047996756387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Cavaliers Hire Warriors Assistant as Head Coach<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atkinson, 56, replaces former head coach<\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/coaches\/bickejb01c.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> J.B. Bickerstaff<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who was let go following the 2023-24 season after five years with the team. During his time as Cavs coach, Bickerstaff boasted a 170-159 record as well as a 6-11 mark in the postseason. The Cavs struggled to find offensive consistency under Bickerstaff, specifically in the playoffs, a main reason he was let go.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Atkinson beat out New Orleans assistant James Borrego for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/06\/24\/cavs-choosing-between-3-head-coach-finalists\/\" target=\"_self\">job<\/a>. The two were the most likely candidates according to multiple <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.fearthesword.com\/2024\/6\/20\/24182444\/cleveland-cavaliers-expected-to-hire-james-borrego\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sources<\/a>.\u00a0The details of Atkinson\u2019s contract have yet to be announced as the sides are still negotiating.<\/p>\n<h3>About Atkinson<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atkinson has been an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors since 2021, winning a championship with the team in 2022. He was previously the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020, leading them to one playoff appearance. Current Cavaliers, <\/span><a  style=\"font-weight: 400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leverca01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caris Levert<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a  style=\"font-weight: 400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/allenja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jarrett Allen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were a part of that playoff team in <\/span><a  style=\"font-weight: 400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/BRK\/2019.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2018-19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The move marks the first major change in Cleveland this summer. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atkinson will now be charged with leading the team past the second round as they look to become serious contenders in the Eastern Conference. He will look to get more out of the Cavs\u2019 big four of <\/span><a  style=\"font-weight: 400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mitchdo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donovan Mitchell<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a  style=\"font-weight: 400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/garlada01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darius Garland<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a  style=\"font-weight: 400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mobleev01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evan Mobley<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and Jarrett Allen. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/wojespn? s=21&amp;t=Z1cxrkK01EXOm5bI4zk-Tw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wojnarowski<\/a> noted the Cavs are particularly excited about\u00a0<\/span>Atkinson&#8217;s connections with the team and ability to develop their young talent.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The Cavaliers are especially eager for Atkinson&#8217;s player development program to impact young 7-footer Evan Mobley, sources said. Atkinson has a strong history with Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert from their time together with the Nets.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cavs are hopeful for an offensive improvement under Atkinson. Under Bickerstaff, Cleveland ranked 16th in <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?Season=2023-24&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">offensive rating<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this past year at 114.7. The Cavs also ranked 14th out of 16 teams in this year&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonType=Playoffs&amp;Season=2023-24\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">playoffs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a rating of 104.7, ahead of only the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans who won a combined one playoff game this season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Warriors 2022 title-winning season with Atkinson on staff, the team ranked <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?Season=2021-22&amp;SeasonType=Playoffs&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fourth<\/a> out of all playoff teams in offensive rating. Cleveland\u2019s struggles have not been in the regular season, however, winning in the playoffs has been a different story. The Cavs hope that Atkinson is the right man to lead them on a deep playoff run for years to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The hiring will allow the Cavs to shift their offseason focus to extending Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is eligible for a four-year <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/23608\/donovan-mitchell\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">200+ million dollar<\/a> deal this summer. From all <a  href=\"https:\/\/syndication.bleacherreport.com\/amp\/10125830-donovan-mitchell-rumors-cavs-confident-spida-signs-4-year-209m-max-contract-soon.amp.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">indications,<\/a> it seems likely that Cleveland will be able to retain their superstar.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new Cavs coach posts a career 118-190 (.383) record as head coach with a 1-4 record in the playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced Kenny Atkinson as their 24th head coach in franchise history, per Adrian Wojnarowski. ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as the franchise\u2019s next head coach and sides are working on a contract that\u2019s expected to be completed soon. pic.twitter.com\/x60kBtvQDQ \u2014 Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5174,"featured_media":82645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,9,25,62],"tags":[1937,900,49128,236],"class_list":["post-82633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-cavaliers","category-warriors","category-nba","tag-darius-garland","tag-donovan-mitchell","tag-jb-bickerstaff","tag-kenny-atkinson"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}