Report: Cavs hiring Warriors assistant Atkinson as new coach originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Steve Kerr and the Warriors will need a new assistant head coach for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Kenny Atkinson will be hired as the new head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday morning, citing sources.
Sources ESPN: The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as the franchise’s next head coach and the teams are working on a contract that is expected to be finalized soon. pic.twitter.com/x60kBtvQDQ
-Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2024
Wojnarowski reported, citing sources, that Atkinson and the Cavaliers are still working out contract details, with a deal expected to be finalized “soon.”
Atkinson spent the last three seasons as Kerr’s assistant coach after spending one season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Atkinson, 57, is a former head coach, having spent four seasons guiding the Brooklyn Nets, where he amassed a regular season record of 118,190. They reached the NBA playoffs once during his tenure (2018-19), but lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.
Atkinson was linked to the work of the Cavaliers since they fired JB Bickerstaff on May 23rd, and within days he was seen as the “leader” for the position.
After joining the Warriors ahead of the 2021-22 season, Atkinson has been linked to several head coaching vacancies, including the Kings of Sacramento It is Los Angeles Lakers in 2022. That summer, he agreed to take the Charlotte Hornets job before changing your mind and stick with Golden State.
Last summer, Atkinson attracted interest from the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors before all four franchises opted for other candidates.
Now, Atkinson has been given a second chance to prove his worth as an NBA coach, while Ker and the Warriors search for a new head assistant.
