Kenny Atkinson took Steve Kerr’s advice to curate a special role for Cavaliers star

Steve Kerr’s important advice to Kenny Atkinson

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished figures in the modern era. After all, Kerr has helped the Warriors win four NBA Championships during his tenure.

While the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson played crucial roles in those title runs, Kerr believes the Warriors’ secret weapons were their role players.

“I always talked to Steve Kerr about this, he always felt like their role players, like David West, Shawn Livingston, they were obviously really good players, but they also had really high basketball IQs,” Atkinson revealed on Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show.

The reigning NBA Coach of the Year took notes and has decided to curate a role for one of the Cavaliers’ role players, Lonzo Ball.

Kenny Atkinson believes Lonzo Ball will push the Cleveland Cavaliers to the ‘next level’

Following a troubled stint with the Chicago Bulls, Lonzo Ball was traded to the Cavaliers this summer.

Of course, Ball is no longer the star he once was, but the best part is that the Cavs do not see the 27-year-old in that role.

“So I think at the playoff level, you need toughness and all that and talent, but you also need IQ. IQ wins in the playoffs,” Atkinson continued.

“At the end of the day, players elevate you, right? We are going to tweak some stuff, but at the end of the day, he’s the guy [Ball] who can help push us to that next level,” he concluded.

Being a high-IQ player, Ball will likely flourish in a sixth-man role under coach Atkinson. After all, the Cavs already have a solid starting lineup.