Kenny Atkinson has been named the NBA Coach of the Year in his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 57-year-old coach led the team to a remarkable first-place finish in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record, securing the top seed in the playoffs.
Atkinson received 59 of 100 first-place votes, beating out Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who finished second in the voting with 31 first-place votes. Bickerstaff orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the Detroit Pistons, leading them from the worst record in the NBA to a 44-38 campaign and the No. 6 seed in the East.
Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets rounded out the top three in the Coach of the Year voting with seven first-place votes.
Atkinson joined the Cavaliers last offseason after serving as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors under Steve Kerr. This was his second head coaching job after a successful stint with the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020.
Under Atkinson’s guidance, the Cavaliers showed significant improvement, winning 16 more games than the previous season. The team started the season with a 15-0 record, tied for the second best start in NBA history, and never looked back, finishing with a three-game lead over the Boston Celtics for the top seed in the East.
Key players like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen flourished under Atkinson’s coaching. Garland returned to All-Star form, Mobley earned his first All-Star appearance and won Defensive Player of the Year, while Mitchell continued his All-Star streak.
The Cavaliers excelled on both ends of the court, ranking first in offensive rating and eighth in defensive rating. Their 64-18 record marks the second-best in franchise history, only behind the legendary LeBron James-led team from 2008-09.
In the playoffs, the Cavaliers made history by sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round with a record-breaking combined margin of victory. However, they faced a setback in Game 1 of the second round against the Indiana Pacers, with Garland sidelined due to injury.
Despite the challenges, Atkinson’s leadership has been instrumental in the Cavaliers’ success this season, and he rightfully deserves the Coach of the Year award for his outstanding debut with the team.