Don’t forget that Kenny Atkinson has already won the honor of NBA Coach of the Year. He was able to grace this honor after a transcendent rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Under his leadership, the Cavaliers won a franchise-record 64 games, earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Atkinson should be incredibly proud to have made this accomplishment. He won 59 of 100 possible first–place votes from a panel of media and was named National Basketball Coaches’ Association Coach of the Year.
Atkinson’s success can largely be attributed to his unconventional coaching techniques. Perhaps most importantly, the new guy is a master at wringing every ounce of talent from the current Cavaliers roster. He oversaw the development of a load-sharing system that turned the team into a near-invincible juggernaut during the regular season. This method proved instrumental in keeping a load off of star players while letting secondary players shine under increased responsibility.
The Cavaliers boasted three All-Stars this season: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, all of whom flourished under Atkinson’s leadership. He designed actions that challenged Evan Mobley’s abilities both as a passer and as a perimeter shooter. Consequently, Mobley has taken the leap to scoring a career-best 18.5 points per game. In addition, Mobley won the Defensive Player of the Year award, underlining how Atkinson’s innovative coaching methods helped turn the Cavs into a top-tier defensive team.
In his first season, Atkinson left an indelible mark. He was largely responsible for giving Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter their best professional seasons. He modified team rotations to provide Donovan Mitchell and other key players more minutes on the floor together. This move really ignited the team’s chemistry and overall team play took off.
Atkinson’s coaching philosophy, a player-development advocate, places a premium on unlocking each player’s potential within a quality locker room atmosphere that promotes competition. Reflecting on his appointment, Atkinson remarked, “When this [job] came open … I was like ‘holy s”
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