Who is Kenny Atkinson? All you need to know about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach

Kenny Atkinson’s NBA coaching experience

While the front office didn’t make any major changes to the roster after Atkinson’s arrival, he elevated the team.

After all, just a season prior, the Cavaliers finished with a 48-34 record with more or less the same roster. Sure, the Cavs couldn’t get past the second round in the 2025 postseason, but the team is heading in the right direction.

It’s possible due to Atkinson’s wealth of knowledge, thanks to his stint as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors.

Prior to his arrival in Cleveland, Atkinson also had a four-year stint with the Brooklyn Nets as their head coach.

Keeping that in mind, the Cavaliers have certainly struck gold with Atkinson as he prepares for Year 2 in Cleveland.

What the Cleveland Cavaliers should expect from Kenny Atkinson

In his first year with the Cavaliers, Atkinson took home the NBA Coach of the Year honor. This simply proves that Kenny was the best coach in the league last season.

So, what’s next for him? Well, the most obvious next step would be to rectify the Cavs’ flaws from the 2025 playoffs.

After all, even as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers were no match for the Tyrese Haliburton-led Indiana Pacers. That was evident in the Cavaliers’ 4-1 second-round defeat vs the Pacers.

Per reports, the Cavaliers are confident about their championship ambitions heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. But will Atkinson and co. succeed in fulfilling their dream? Only time will tell.